UC-NRLF 


SB    EflE 


/ 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


PLEA  FOR  AFRICA. 


FAMILIAR  CONVERSATIONS 


ON  THE  SUBJECT  OP 


<£olonf!8tfont 

[ORIGINALLY    PUBLISHED    UNDER  THE   TITLE    "  YARADEE/'] 

Revised  and  Enlarged. 


BY  F.  FREEMAN, 

Rector  of  St.  David's  Church,  Manayunk  ;  author  of"  The  Pastor's  Plea  for  Sacred 
Psalmody,"  etc. 


HOMO  SUM,    HUMAKI  3TIL  A  ME  ALIENUM  PUTO." Terence. 


SECOND  EDITION. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
PUBLISHED  BY  J.  WHETHAM, 

No.  22  South  Fourth  street. 

1837. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the 
District  Court  of  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


ERRATA. 

On  page  202,  line  9th  from  the  bottom,  dele  "  it  " 
r,.d  r<J:  lmP  4"'        <l0'        da      in  the   note'  for  "  «P«*enting, 


WILLIAM    STAVELT,    PRINTER, 

No.  12  Pear  street. 


DEDICATION. 

TO  THE 

HON.  HENRY  CLAY, 

THE  DISTINGUISHED  SON   OF  THE    WEST,  THE    ACCOMPLISHED    STATES 
MAN  AND  TRUE  PATRIOT,    THE  FRIEND  OF  FREEDOM    AND  OF 
HUMAN  RIGHTS,  THE  ABLE  A3TD  ZEALOUS  ADVOCATE 
FOR      COLONIZATION,     AND     PRESIDENT 
OF    THE    AMERICAN    COLONIZA 
TION   SOCIETT, 

THIS  WORK  IS  RESPECTFULLY  INSCRIBED 

BY  THE  AUTHOR. 


FS 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

ADVERTISEMENT,          ...  11-12 

CONVERSATION  I. 

The  claims  of  Afric  worthy  of  consideration — Diversity  of  sen 
timent — The  African  race  often  traduced — Capable  of  moral 
and  intellectual  distinction — Once  an  enlightened  people — Dis 
tinguished  men— Degrading  influence  of  paganism  and  ty 
ranny,  13-19 

CONVERSATION  II. 

Origin  of  the  African  race — Africa,  by  whom  originally  settled — 
The  curse  against  Canaan — The  curse  explained — The  predic 
tion  fulfilled — The  enslaving  of  Africans  not  therefore  just — 
Canaanites  scattered— Africa  not  always  to  be  oppressed,  20-25 

CONVERSATION  III. 

^Ethiopia  shall  stretch  out  her  hands  unto  God — Color  of  Afri 
cans — Different  tribes  assimilated — Tradition  respecting  Gush- 
Early  history  of  Africa  obscure — Interior  of  Africa  but  little 
known — Africa's  ancient  glory — Light  from  Africa  on  other 
lands— That  light  reflected  back,  23-35 

CONVERSATION  IV. 

Great  reverses  often  in  the  history  of  nations — Much  yet  to  ad 
mire  in  Africa — Africa's  distinguished  ones— Prince  Moro — 
Prince  Abduhl  Rahahman— Abduhl's  father  and  Dr.  Cox — 
Prince  and  Dr.  Cox — Dr.  Cox  endeavors  to  free  Prince — 
Prince's  account  of  his  capture — Carried  to  the  W.  Indies 
and  Natchez,  •  •_  -.  .-;  -  36-44 

CONVERSATION  V. 

Kemains  of  Africa's  former  glory— Destined  to  rise — Travellers 
in  Africa— Truth  and  fiction  found  together  in  travels— Afri- 
1* 


6  CONTENTS. 

cans  not  naturally  indolent — Causes  of  indolence  and  incen 
tives  to  vice — African  bravery — Henry  Diaz — Other  traits — 
Louis  Desrouleaux — Glance  at  the  interior  of  Africa — The 
Solima  camp — Solima  song,  44-55 

CONVERSATION  VI. 

Scripture  testimony  to  African  learning— Manuscripts — Christian 
tribes— Large  cities — Color  of  beauty — Domestic  slavery  in 
Africa — Manner  of  capturing  slaves — Horrors  of  the  slave- 
trade — Middle  passage — Horrors  of  slavery — A  reproach  to  hu 
manity — An  evil  full  of  danger— The  evil  to  be  removed — 
Something  must  be  done — A  right  spirit  needed,  -  -  56-6G 

CONVERSATION  VII. 

Self-preservation,  a  law  of  nature — Change  being  effected — 
Common  interest  of  our  country— Slavery,  the  bane  of  our 
peace  and  unity — Depresses  the  South — Is  unprofitable — In 
troduced  by  England — Policy  of  England— Retires  South — 
Cannot  be  supported  on  barren  soils — Occasions  much  anxi 
ety — Great  vigilance  necessary — Insurrectionary  alarms — An 
evil  to  master  and  slave,  -  67-77 

CONVERSATION  VIII. 

Slavery  attended  with  anxieties — Severe  enactments —  Danger 
ous  publications — The  South  must  be  vigilant — Insurrectiona 
ry  attempts  ruinous  to  the  blacks — Slaves  should  not  be  kept 
in  ignorance — Kindly  feelings  at  the  South — Difficulties  of 
emancipation — Duly  to  slaves  does  not  always  require  emanci 
pation,  ....  77.84 

CONVERSATION  IX. 

Sentiments  of  the  South— Misrepresentations — Severity  of  re- 
mark  unwise — Washington's  advice,  -  -  -  85-9i) 

CONVERSATION  X. 

Introduction  of  Slav ery— Opposed  by  the  colonies— The  first 
slave-ship— Early  date  of  Slavery  in  Africa— Foreign  traffic- 
Slaves  introduced  into  Hispanioia — Origin  of  Slavery  in 
America — Mistaken  Philanthropy  of  Las  Casas — Mistaken 
zeal  in  a  good  cause  may  lead  to  great  error — Plea  of  politi 
cal  necessity  often  abused — Advantage  of  one's  own  wrong — 
A  consummation  greatly  to  be  desired,  -  -  -  U9-109 

CONVERSATION  XI. 

All  Christendom  has  been  engaged  in  the  traffic — Christianity 
identified  by  the  African  formerly  with  cruelty  and  perfidy — 


CONTENTS. 


Classification  of  slaves — How  slaves  are  secured  and  sold — 
Horrors  of  the  passage — The  middle  passage — Africa  as  she 


was — Extent  of  the  trad< 


— Cruelties, 
CONVERSATION  XII. 


Cruelties  of  the  slave-trade — Extent  of  the  trade  in  later  years — 
First  cost— Domestic  distress— Affecting  case— The  African 


Chieftain,  Stanzas, 


CONVERSATION  XIII. 


Change  of  public  sentiment — Measures  in  Parliament — Aboli 
tion  of  the  trade  by  Congress — By  other  powers — Trade  not 
suppressed — Something  more  necessary — Colonies  along  the 
coast — Early  efforts  of  Virginia — Her  example  followed — 
Slavery  abolished  by  England — Claims  of  England  unwarran 
table  and  immodest — An  enlightened  view  of  the  whole  sub 
ject  desirable,  ...... 

CONVERSATION  XIV. 

The  Federal  government — Rights  guaranteed  by  Conslitution — 
Must  not  be  infringed — District  of  Columbia — South  sensitive 
— North  censorious — All  interested — Prudent  measures  recom 
mended — .North  not  without  sin — Appeal  to  New-England, 

CONVERSATION  XV. 

A  national  debt — May  be  cancelled — Right  of  discussion — A 
moral  wrong — Property  recognized  by  law — Rights  guaran 
teed — Value  of  slave  property — The  Federal  compact — Diffi 
culties  of  emancipation — South  tenacious  of  its  rights — Foreign 
interference  inadmissable — The  constitutional  question — Ef 
fects  of  discussion— Disunion  and  collision,  madness — Virginia 
matron's  appeal, 

CONVERSATION  XVI. 

Moral  and  religious  instruction  of  sJaves — Efforts  at  the  South — 
Religious  instruction  in  Virginia — In  Georgia — In  South  Caro 
lina — Colonization  tends  to  emancipation — Anecdote  of  recap 
tured  boy — Slavery  overruled  for  good — Christian  colonies  a 
means  of  evangelizing  the  heathen, 

CONVERSATION  XVII. 

Freedom  alone  will  not  elevate  the  blacks — Their  depravation 
not  strange — No  stimulus  to  effort — No  opportunity  for  distinc 
tion—Almost  necessarily  degraded — Natural  consequence  of 
their  situation — Cannot  rise  or  be  happy  here — Claims  of  the 
American  Colonization  Society — Opens  bright  prospects  for 


110-110 


117-123 


124-132 


132-139 


140-155 


155-168 


CONTENTS. 

Africa — Prejudices  against  Africans — Distinctions  on  account 
of  color — Less  prejudice  in  other  countries — Anecdote  of 
Saunders,  ...  .  168-175 

CONVERSATION  XVIII. 

Free  blacks  more  degraded  than  slaves — Alarming  proportion  of 
crime  among  blacks — Either  colonization  or  slavery  necessary 
for  the  present — Colonization  ameliorates  the  condition  of  the 
slave — Immediate  and  universal  emancipation  ruinous — Anec 
dote — An  unwelcome  population — Baltimore  memorial — Em 
barkation  of  colonists,  -  176-184 

CONVERSATION  XIX. 

Africa  a  home  for  her  children — Happiness  and  respectability 
promoted  by  removal — Motives  to  respectability — African  im 
provement  and  colonization  closely  united — The  foundation  of 
a  Christian  empire  laid — History  of  the  American  Colonization 
Society — Society  organized— Originators  and  Patrons — First 
emigration  to  Africa — Colonization  agents  visit  Africa — 
Samuel  John  Mills— Death  of  Mills— Tribute  to  his  memory,  185-193 

CONVERSATION  XX. 

Friends  of  Africa — Anthony  Benezet — Object  of  the  American 
Colonization  Society — Generally  approved — All  may  unite — 
Lafayette's  views  of  the  Society — Other  distinguished  friends 
— Auxiliaries — Legislative  acts  approbatory — Funds — Ecclesi 
astical  bodies  approve,  194-201 

CONVERSATION  XXI. 

Liberia— Location  and  chief  settlements — Monrovia — Caldwell 
—New  Georgia— Millsburgh— Marshall— Cape  Palmas— Ad 
dress  of  the  Maryland  Colonists — Bassa  Cove — Fertility  of  Li 
beria—Testimony  of  Park — Productions — Resources — Com 
mercial  advantages — Commerce  of  Liberia — Enterprise — Pros 
perity,  -  202-211 

CONVERSATION  XXII. 

Climate — First  selection  of  place  unfavorable — Exposures  of  the 
early  colonists — Discouragements  at  Jamestown  and  Plymouth 
greater— Difficulties  at  Sierra  Leone— Difficulties  generally  at 
tend  new  settlements— Desolations  of  the  slave-trade— Huma 
nity  pleads  for  colonization — Honor  to  be  pioneers — Address  of 
citizens  of  Monrovia— Delightful  climate  for  blacks— No  com 
petition,  .  .  212-222 

CONVERTATION   XXII. 

Aid  from  the  U.  States — Recaptured  slaves  restored  to  Africa— 


CONTENTS.  9 

Early  trials  of  the  colony — Ashraun's  defence — Ashmun's 
death — His  early  history — Dies  praying  for  Africa— Monu 
ment— Poetical  tribe,  -  -  222-227 

CONVERSATION  XXIV. 

Government  of  Liberia — Literary  advantages — Library — Print 
ing  press — Testimony  of  Dr.  Shane — Of  Captain  Kennedy — 
Of  Capt.  Nicholson— Of  Capt.  Abels— Of  a  British  officer— Of 
Governor  Mechlin — Of  Capt.  Sherman — Of  Rev.  B.  Wilson — 
Of  Dr.  Skinner — Of  Mr.  Buchanan — Of  Colonists — Religious 
privileges — Colonization  a  good  cause — Good  has  been  done,  228-243 

CONVERSATION  XXV. 

Young  Men's  Colonization  Society  of  Pennsylvania — First  ex 
pedition — Interesting  coincidences — Great  success  and  encou 
ragement— Bassa  Cove — The  slavers  move  the  natives  to  at 
tack  the  colony — No  apprehension  for  the  future — Prosperity 
of  the  colony — American  Society — College  in  Liberia  proposed 
— Such  an  institution  needed — College  necessary — Degenera 
cy  without  knowledge — A  college  in  Liberia  full  of  promise 
— It  will  be  sustained — Bassa  Cove  a  delightful  country — Co 
lonists  contented  and  prosperous — The  colonies  must  succeed 
—Colonies  should  line  the  coast,  -  244-260 

CONVERSATION  XXVI. 

Right  of  Search — Convention  of  foreign  powers — Extinction  of 
the  slave-trade— Recent  facts — Slave-trade  not  practicable 
where  colonies  are  planted— Great  extent  of  coast  exposed — 
Our  national  vessels  should  visit  the  coast — Some  action  of 
Congress  desirable,  -  -  -  261-268 

CONVERSATION   XXVII. 

Colonization  is  practicable — Best  way  of  redressing  Africa's 
wrongs — The  cause  of  true  patriotism— Its  claims — Coloniza 
tion  or  ruin — Difference  of  opinion  among  good  men — In 
crease  of  Blacks— Dangers  from  a  mixed  population,  -  -  268-276 

CONVERSATION  XXVIII. 

Even  partial  success  a  great  blessing — Slaves  of  other  times  of 
the  color  of  their  masters — Colonization  unites  conflicting  in 
terests — All  are  benefitted — An  honorable  instance — Views 
of  an  intelligent  colored  man — Our  honor  pledged — A  na 
tion's  oath — Christian  obligations — Heaven  on  the  side  of 
Africa — Africa  and  colonization  the  subject  of  many  prayers,  276-285 

CONVERSATION  XXIX. 
A  great  and  worthy  enterprise— Africa's  claims  acknowledged — A 


10  CONTENTS. 

missionary  field — Bright  prospects — Fond  anticipation  of  Mills 
— What  more  noble  cause — Emancipation  not  our  only  duty — 
The  country  must  engage  in  the  work — Right  of  appropria 
tion—True  liberty  secured  to  Africa,  -  285-291 

CONVERSATION  XXX. 

Objections  answered — Means  of  transportation — Great  things 
usually  accomplished  slowly — Liberia  compared  with  other 
colonies — Room  in  Africa — All  opposition  wrong — Shall  not 
Africa  be  Christianized  ? — Responsibility  of  opposers — Coloni 
zation  and  abolition  societies  not  necessarily  conflicting — 
Neither  should  molest  or  be  molested — All  good  associations 
have  not  the  same  object — glorious  results  anticipated — If  co 
lonization  fail,  high  hopes  are  blighted — It  will  prosper — The 
cause  of  God,  -  -  292-302 

APPENDIX. 

Early  and  distinguished  friends  of  Colonization — Robert  Finley — 
James  Madison — Thomas  Jefferson — James  Monroe— Charles 
Carroll — Bushrod  Washington — John  Marshall — Bishop  White 
—Robert  Ralston— Elias  B.  Caldwell— William  H.  Fitzhugh 
— Thomos  S.  Grimke— Lott  Carey— Dr.  Randall— Dr.  Ander 
son—Melville  B.  Cox— and  others, 303-323 

Pre-eminent  qualifications  of  the  pioneers  in  colonization- 
Qualifications  of  the  colonists  generally — Acknowledgment 
of  the  valuable  services  of  others  in  aid  of  the  cause,  323-325 

Colonization  and  Africa  have  found  generous  friends  among  the 

fair  sex,  326-330 

Friends  to  the  cause  in  England,  •                                                 330-331 

Objections  of  opposers,  .                           331-347 

Mission  to  the  interior  of  Africa,  347-349 

New  Mission  to  Africa,  349 

Notices  of  this  work,  &c.  -           -           -                   -     351-354 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

[TO    THE   FIRST    EDITION.] 


THIS  little  volume  is  thrown  before  the  world  without  the 
usual  array  of  names  to  sustain  its  claims  to  consideration. 
Its  pretensions  are  not  lofty :  it  refers  to  the  importance  of 
its  subject,  and  with  the  solemn  assurance  that  it  has  been 
written  without  any  subserviency  to  party  views,  and  with 
out  any  unkind  designs,  it  relies  on  the  candor  of  the  reader. 
The  writer  has  followed  the  honest  convictions  of  his  own 
mind,  and  in  connexion  with  facts  that  are  indisputable,  has 
expressed  views  which  are  the  conscientious  result  of  much 
reflection,  personal  observation,  and  a  long  residence  and  ex 
tensive  acquaintance  at  the  South.  He  may  have  formed  an 
erroneous  judgment  in  some  things  pertaining  to  the  subject, 
for 

"  to  err  is  human," 

and  he  lays  no  claim  to  infallibility ;  but  he  loves  truth,  and 
has  truly  aimed  at  impartiality.  If,  on  the  one  hand,  he  is 
constrained  to  admit  a  liability  to  bias  from  "  northern  pre 
judice,"  he  can  sincerely  say  that,  on  the  other  hand,  his 
warm  admiration  of  the  southern  character  and  his  affection 
for  southern  friends  unite  an  all-sufficient  counteracting  in 
fluence.  He  is  fully  aware  that  as  these  pages  savor  none 
of  party,  they  will  not  find  favor  with  the  ULTRAS  of  any 
opinion ;  and  he  conceives  it  more  than  possible  that  some 
of  opposing  sentiments  may  each  suppose  that  the  writer 
favors  the  views  of  the  other :  if,  however,  whilst  some  dis 
approve  and  condemn  without  cause,  or  are  severe  in  criti 
cism,  the  more  candid  approve,  the  writer  will  not  complain. 
That  these  pages  may  do  good,  is  the  anxious  wish  of  one 
who  loves  his  country  and  sympathizes  with  his  brethren  in 
whatever  part  of  the  country,  and  also  pities  Africa  and  her 
oppressed  children. 


12  ADVERTISEMENT. 

Particular  acknowledgments  of  the  aid  derived  in  this 
work  from  the  able  remarks  of  several  distinguished  advo 
cates  for  freedom  and  for  human  rights,  are  not  given ;  for 
the  task  would  be  inconvenient  and  useless.  If  any  such 
find  their  thoughts  or  language  here  employed,  they  will  re 
quire  no  apology,  satisfied  to  have  aided  by  their  writings 
this  humble  attempt  at  a  plea  for  Africa,  and  will  cordially 
unite  with  that  of  the  writer,  their  earnest  prayer  that  the 
claims  of  Africa  may  be  better  understood,  and  that  we  may 
all  and  each  of  us  soon  be  able  to  say,  without  an  exception 
or  a  blush, 

"  UBI  LIBERTAS,  IBI  PATRIA." 


[FOR  THE  PRESENT  EDITION.] 

In  sending  to  the  press  a  second,  revised,  and  enlarged 
edition  of  his  Plea  for  Africa,  the  author  gratefully  acknow 
ledges  the  flattering  reception  which  the  first  edition  met, 
and  the  assurances  he  has  had  that  it  has  been  of  utility  to 
the  cause  which  he  seeks  to  promote.  His  prayer  is  that 
the  work  may  still  be  useful,  and  that  divine  Providence 
may  continue  to  smile  on  the  efforts  of  all  true  friends  of  the 
African  race. 

It  is  proper  to  add  that  much  aid  has  been  derived  in  the 
preparation,  or  revision  of  the  Plea,  from  Rees'  Cyclopedia, 
Rollin,  Gregoire,  Malte  Brun,  Eusebius,  &c.  touching 
the  early  history  of  Africa  and  of  the  slave-trade  ;  and 
for  later  information,  reference  has  chiefly  been  made 
to  the  African  Repository  and  the  other  publications  of 
the  American  Colonization  Society  and  its  auxiliaries.  A 
part  of  the  title  to  the  first  edition,  "  Yaradee,"  has  been 
omitted  in  this,  the  name  not  helping  to  indicate  the  nature 
of  the  work,  and  having  been  found  inconvenient,  in  some 
instances  leading  to  the  impression  that  the  book-belongs  to 
the  class  of  novels. 


IP  Ed  IB  A  IF®  IB 


CONVERSATION   I. 

"  Eternal  nature !  when  thy  giant  hand 
Had  heaved  the  floods,  and  fixed  the  trembling  land, 
When  life  sprung  startling  at  thy  plastic  call, 
Endless  her  forms,  and  man  the  lord  of  all ; 
Say  was  that  lordly  form,  inspired  by  thee, 
To  wear  eternal  chains,  and  bow  the  knee  ?" — Campbell. 

«  THE  subject  of  your  discussion,'  said  Mr.  L,  as  he 
folded  the  paper  which  had  for  some  time  absorbed  his  at 
tention,  and  turned  to  his  children,  who  in  the  opposite  part 
of  the  parlor,  whilst  he  was  reading,  had  been  as  busily  em 
ployed  in  discussing  the  merits  of  the  Colonization  and  Anti- 
slavery  Societies,  *  is  certainly  one  that  commends  itself  to 
the  heart  of  humanity  in  either  sex  and  among  all  people. 
Your  inquiries,  last  evening,  I  had  not  time  then  to  answer 
fully ;  but  I  shall  be  happy  now  to  give  you  all  the  informa 
tion  in  relation  to  it,  in  my  power.' 

The  little  group  which  Mr.  L.  thus  addressed,  consisted 
of  his  eldest  daughter,  Caroline,  a  lovely  and  interesting  girl 
of  sixteen  ;  Henry,  a  sprightly  and  intelligent  boy,  who  was 
next  to  his  sister  Caroline  in  age,  and  their  two  younger 
brothers,  and  little  sister  Mary.  Caroline  and  Henry  were 
conducting  the  debate,  but  all  seemed  deeply  interested  in 
the  subject,  and  the  eyes  of  all  glistened  with  pleasure  when 

A 


14  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Diversity  of  sentiment. 


Mr.  L.  proposed  to  gratify  their  wishes  by  assisting  them  to 
understand  a  subject  which  they  found  attended  with  at  least 
some  difficulty.  A  beloved  and  respected  father  is  authority 
to  which  a  dutiful  and  affectionate  child  loves  to  refer  for  in 
formation  and  advice,  and  to  which,  ordinarily,  an  appeal  is 
made  with  great  confidence. 

Said  Caroline,  '  I  thought  from  your  remarks,  last  even 
ing,  my  dear  father,  that  you  supposed  the  views  of  both 
Henry  and  myself  to  be  somewhat  incorrect ;  and  I  think 
nothing  more  probable  than  that  mine  are,  for  I  confess  I 
know  not  what  to  believe  when  I  notice  the  conflicting  opi 
nions  of  so  many  good  men  in  relation  to  this  subject.' 

4  It  need  not  surprise  us,'  rejoined  Mr.  L.,  *  to  find  pre 
vailing  some  diversity  of  sentiment  on  a  subject  which, 
whether  presented  to  the  mind  of  patriot,  philanthropist,  or 
Christian,  involves  considerations  of  so  great  and  important 
interest.  Nor  will  it  be  thought  strange  by  me,  if  my  deal- 
children  should  find,  when  we  come  to  converse  freely  and 
fully  on  the  subject,  that  they  are  in  some  respects  in  error, 
not  in  matters  of  opinion  only,  but  of  fact.  I  therefore  sug 
gested  to  you,  last  evening,  for  I  had  not  time  to  say  more, 
that,  possibly  you  might  find  yourself,  in  some  things,  la 
boring  under  mistake.  The  hint  was  given,  you  xvill  recol 
lect,  Caroline,  in  consequence  of  a  remark  of  yours  in  re 
spect  to  the  "  obtuseness"  of  the  African  intellect.' 

'  But,  Pa,'  said  Caroline,  with  some  degree  of  surprise, 
and  with  apparent  incredulity,  '  I  presume  you  do  not  think 
the  remark  unjust  ?  The  stupidity  of  Africans,  I  suppose  to 
be  proverbial.' 

A  point  was  now  touched  which  it  was  evident  had  inte 
rested  the  feelings  of  the  children  in  the  previous  conversa 
tion  that  had  been  held  whilst  Mr.  L.  was  engaged  in  read 
ing  ;  for  the  smaller  children  drew  closer  around  the  table, 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA.  15 

The  African  race  often  traduced. 

and  Caroline  and  Henry  looked  at  each  other  and  at  their 
father,  as  if  this  was  a  matter  respecting  which  they  had  not 
only  agreed,  but  wondered  that  any  one,  and  especially  one 
whose  opinion  they  so  much  respected,  could  entertain  a 
thought  different  from  theirs.  The  reply  of  Mr.  L.  engaged 
their  feelings  still  more  :  '  It  is  true,  my  daughter,  that  in  de 
fiance  of  all  records  of  antiquity,  whether  sacred  or  profane, 
and  equally  regardless  of  the  evidence  which  our  own  times 
may  furnish,  the  African  race  are  often  mentioned  as  if  a  dis 
tinct  order  of  beings,  a  grade  between  man  and  brute  ;*  but — 

1  O  Pa !'  interrupted  C.,  *  I  have  no  such  idea  as  that.' 

'  I  know  that  you  have  not,'  resumed  Mr.  L.,  *  but,  my 
daughter,  you  may  not  be  doing  ample  justice  to  the  Afri 
cans,  if  you  suppose  them  incapable  of  the  finest  sensibilities 
and  sympathies  of  our  nature,  and  of  making  great  advances 
in  all  that  requires  strength  or  even  brilliancy  of  intellect,  as 
any  other  people.'  . , 

*  Is  it  not  strange,  then,  Pa,'  C.  inquired,  « that  none  of 

*  It  is  earnestly  contended  by  some  that  the  negro  race  are  so  inferior  by- 
nature  to  the  rest  of  mankind  that  perpetual  slavery  is  the  destiny  to  which 
they  are  best  adapted.  They  have  been  stigmatized  "  the  disgrace  and  mis 
fortune  of  the  human  race."  Others  assert  that  the  skull  or  cranium  of  the 
negro  shows  him  to  belong  to  a  distinct  species  ;  and  to  settle  the  question 
whether  the  negro  race  be  not  a  distinct  species,  reference  has  in  some  in 
stances  been  made  to  the  cranium.  Nothing,  however,  can  be  argued  from 
this  source  against  facts  that  show  the  negro  race  to  be  capable  of  great 
mental  effort  and  distinction,  if  such  facts  can  be  made  to  appear;  and  we 
think  an  impartial  mind  will  not,  upon  inquiry,  deny  that  very  many  in 
stances  of  both  moral  and  intellectual  distinction  among  the  race  can  be  ad 
duced. 

In  Rees'  Cyclopedia  it  is  well  remarked,  "  Without  denying  that  there  are 
differences  both  in  the  extent  and  kind  of  mental  power,  (in  the  various  races 
of  men,)  we  are  decidedly  of  opinion  that  theso  differences  are  not  sufficient 
in  any  instance  to  warrant  us  in  referring  a  particular  race  to  an  originally 
different  species  ;  and  we  protest  especially  against  the  sentiments  of  those 
who  would  either  entirely  deny  to  the  Africans  the  enjoyment  of  reason,  or 
who  ascribe  to  them  such  vicious,  malignant,  and  treacherous  propensities 
as  would  degrade  them,  even  below  the  level  of  the  brute.  It  can  be  proved 
most  clearly  that  there  is  no  circumstance  of  bodily  structure  so  peculiar  to 
the  negro,  as  not  to  be  found  in  other  far  distant  nations ;  no  character  which 
does  not  run  into  those  of  other  races,  by  the  same  insensible  gradations  as 
those  which  connect  together  all  the  varieties  of  mankind. "—Article  Man. 


16  PLEA    FOR  AFRICA. 


Once  an  enlightened  people. 


the  African  race  have  ever  been  distinguished  for  talent  ?  I 
can  easily  conceive  that  Africans  may  have  warm  hearts ; 
but  it  hardly  seems  to  me  that  you  are  serious,  Pa,  when 
you  speak  of  the  capabilities  of  the  African  mind  ?' 

'My  daughter  may  be  quite  as  incredulous  then,  if  told 
that  this  very  people,  now  so  degraded,  and  who  have  been 
as  if  by  common  consent  so  long  and  so  much  traduced,  were 
for  more  than  a  thousand  years,  which  is  almost  twenty 
times  longer  than  the  government  under  which  we  live  has 
been  in  existence,  the  most  enlightened  people  on  the  face 
of  the  globe  ?' 

'  What,  Pa,  the  Africans  ?' 
'  Yes,  my  daughter.' 

*  Why,  Pa,  you  surprise  me.  You  certainly  do  not  mean 
to  be  understood  that  Africans  have  ever  been  distinguished 
for  genius  and  intellectual  attainments  ?' 

'  I  do,  my  daughter,  as  strange  as  it  may  seem.  Africa, 
unhappy  Africa,  is  now  degraded,  and  wherever  are  her  sons 
and  daughters,  they  are  reproached  and  trampled  under  foot ; 
but  among  her  children  stand  immortalized  in  history  a  long 
list  of  names,  as  honorable,  for  aught  I  know,  as  any  nation 
upon  earth  can  produce.' 

This,  C.  professed,  was  to  her  a  new  idea  ;  and  Henry 
who  admitted  that  he  had  l  always  thought  the  Africans  a 
much  injured  people,'  and  who  protested  that  he  felt  *  very 
little  respect  for  those  people  who  sometimes  place  the  Afri 
can  on  a  level  with  baboons,'  acknowledged  *  that  the  idea  of 
literature  and  science  associated  with  an  African  name,'  was 
as  novel  to  him,  as  it  was  to  Caroline. 

1  You  do  not  mean,  Pa,'  H.  inquired,  « that  any  consider 
able  number  of  Africans  have  discovered  genius,  or  been  dis 
tinguished  for  the  cultivation  of  their  minds  ?' 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  17 


Distinguished  men. 


Caroline  declared  that  she  did  not '  know  a  single  instance, 
unless  it  be  that  of  Phillis  Wheatley,  who  lived  in  Boston, 
sixty  years  ago,  and  wrote  some  very  pretty  poems.'* 

« You  have  both  of  you,  my  dear  children,'  said  Mr.  L., 
'  heard  of  CYPRIAN,  ST.  AUGUSTINE,  and  TERTULLIAN,  those 
fathers  of  the  church  ;  they  were  Africans.  TERRENCE,  who 

has  been  called 

"  As  sweet  a  bard 
As  ever  strung  the  lyre  to  song," 

was  an  African,  and  was  once  a  slave.  Quintillian  says  that 
Terrence  was  the  most  elegant  and  refined  of  all  the  come 
dians  whose  writings  appeared  on  the  Roman  stage.  You 
have  also  read  of  HANNO  and  HANNIBAL  ;  they  were  among 
the  valiant  ones  of  Africa.  It  is  said  that  the  science  of  Al 
gebra  originated  in  Africa.  And  what  is  more,  the  time  was 
when  Religion  shed  her  rays  brilliantly  upon  that  now  be 
nighted  quarter  of  the  globe,  and  the  church  was  there  pros 
perous.  Ecclesiastical  history  tells  us  that  in  one  council  of 
the  church  in  that  country,  assembled  on  a  question  of  great 
importance,  two  hundred  and  seventy-seven  Bishops  took 
their  seats.' 

Henry  now  inquired  of  C.  if  she  had  ever  thought  of  these 
as  being  Africans  ;  confessing  that  he  had  not,  although  it 
now  seemed  to  him  strange  that  he  never  had.  He  thought 
that  one  would  hardly  suppose,  looking  at  Africa  as  she  now 
is,  that  such  men  were  her  sons.  And  C.  who  also  knew 
the  fact  that  these  were  Africans,  and  could  tell  much  of  the 
ancient  history  of  Africa,  for  she  was  well  versed  in  history, 
both  modern  and  ancient,  but  had  been  so  long  accustomed 

*  Phillis  was  born  in  Africa — torn  from  her  country  at  the  age  of  seven, 
and  in  1761  sold  to  John  Wheatley  of  Boston.  "  Allowed  to  employ  herself 
in  study,  she  rapidly  attained  a  knowledge  of  the  Latin  language.  In  1772 
at  the  age  of  nineteen,  and  still  a  slave,  she  published  a  volume  of  religious 
and  moral  poetry,  which  passed  through  several  editions"  on  both  sides  the 
Atlantic.  She  obtained  her  freedom  in  1775,  and  died  five  years  afterward 

A2 


18  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA, 


Degrading  influence  of  Paganism  and  Tyranny 


to  identify  the  whole  of  Africa  with  the  specimens  she  had 
seen,  and  to  judge  of  the  intellectual  powers  of  all  by  the 
present  degradation  of  the  great  portion  of  the  Negro  race 
in  this  country,  that  she  had  lost  sight  of  so  important  facts, 
or  at  least  was  unaccustomed  to  think  of  them  in  this  con 
nexion,  professed  to  be  *  quite  ashamed'  of  herself.  *  I 
really  do  not  know,'  she  said,  '  which  most  surprises  me,  my 
own  stupidity  in  relation  to  this  subject,  or  the  interesting 
views  which  open  to  my  mind,  by  reason  of  the  light  which 
Pa  has  thrown  upon  it.  But,  Pa,'  she  continued, '  the  whole 
continent  of  Africa  is  exceeding  degraded  now  ;  do  you  not 
think  that  the  African  intellect,  generally,  has  greatly  dete 
riorated  ?' 

*  My  daughter,'  said  Mr.  L.,  *  human  nature,  in  whatever 
situation  is  wronged,  if  we  judge  of  its  capacity  unfavora 
bly,  merely  because  we  find  that  paganism  and  tyranny  de 
grade  those  that  fall  under  their  influence.*  Perhaps,  how 
ever,  we  shall  pursue  this  whole  subject  to  greater  advantage 
if,  taking  time  for  its  consideration  and  discussion,  we  call 
to  our  aid  somewhat  of  system  in  arrangement  of  topics,  and 

*  "  From  the  paralyzing  influence  of  slavery,  the  ancient  slaves  of  all  na 
tions,  whatever  their  complexion,  were  considered  inferior  in  intellect.  This 
is  noticed  by  Homer  : 

'  For  half  his  senses  Jove  conveys  away, 
Whom  once  he  dooms  to  see  the  servile  day.' 

Yet  what  was  benumbed,  was  not  destroyed.  Out  of  the  stagnant  pool  of  slave 
ry  arose  a  Servius  Tullius,  the  sixth  king  of  Rome  ;  an  ^Esop,  one  of  the  wise 
men  of  Greece  ;  a  Phaedrus,  who  wrote  fables  in  Iambic  verse  :  an  Ale- 
men,  a  Lyric  poet;  an  Epictetus,  the  celebrated  stoic  philosopher?  and  a 
Terrence,  a  distinguished  dramatic  writer  among  the  Romans.  *  *  The 
present  depressed  state  of  the  African  mind  may  be  accounted  for  without 
supposing  any  original  or  permanent  inferiority.  For  thirty  centuries  they 
have  been  the  common  spoil  of  the  world,  and  treated  as  if  they  were  made 
only  for  slaves.  And  as  to  those  who  are  found  in  other  countries,  what 
could  be  expected  of  creatures  so  circumstanced  ?  Torn  from  their  native 
soil  in  a  state  of  nature,  kept  in  the  profoundest  ignorance,  with  every  ob- 
atacle  opposed  to  their  improvement,  depressed  by  the  most  cruel  treatment, 
by  a  series  of  wrongs  enough  to  extinguish  the  last  spark  of  genius,  and 
with  no  hope— no  incentive  to  exertion"— President  Griffin's  Plea  for 
Africa 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA,  19 


Conversation  deferred. 


glance  in  the  first  place  at  the  former  history  of  Africa,  and 
then  at  her  condition  in  later  times,  noticing  the  wrongs  that 
have  been  done  her  in  the  prosecution  of  the  slave-trade,  and 
the  claims  which  Africa  has  upon  our  sympathy  and  justice 
for  redress.  So  that,  if  you  please,  we  will  make  this  the 
general  plan  of  our  conversations  ;  and  as  other  topics  of  in 
terest  connected  with  the  general  subject,  and  growing  out 
of  it,  naturally  present  themselves,  they  also  may  be  noticed. 
I  am  pleased  to  see  you  interested  in  the  welfare  of  Africa, 
and  disposed  to  acquire  correct  views,  and  cherish  right  feel 
ings  in  respect  to  so  important  a  subject.  My  own  sympa 
thies  are  strongly  enlisted  in  behalf  of  that  much  injured 
people.  Their  claims  to  our  sympathy  and  humanity  have 
been  too  long  neglected.' 

Both  Caroline  and  Henry  expressed  much  satisfaction 
with  the  arrangement  proposed,  which  they  assured  Mr.  L. 
was  very  grateful  to  their  feelings,  and  expressed  also  a  hope 
that  by  their  attention  and  improvement,  they  might  be  able 
to  give  other  proof  that  they  appreciate  his  kindness. 

Mr.  L.,  on  the  other  hand,  intimated  that  he  had  great 
reason  to  rejoice  that  his  children  gave  him  so  much  evidence 
of  their  affection  and  respect,  and  so  much  promise  in  their 
dutiful,  and  upright,  and  ever  amiable  deportment,  of  future 
respectability  and  usefulness  and  happiness. 

The  conversation  was  now  deferred  to  another  time. 


20  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Origin  of  the  African  Race. 


CONVERSATION   II. 

"  God  drave  asunder,  and  assign'd  their  lot 

To  all  the  nations.    Ample  was  the  boon 

He  gave  them,  in  its  distribution  fair 

And  equal ;  and  he  bade  them  dwell  in  peace." — Cowper. 

1  WELL,  my  son,  Caroline  and  I  are  waiting  for  you'thatwe 
may  take  up  the  subject  of  our  last  evening's  conversation,' 
said  Mr.  L.,  after  a  little  conversation  with  C.  on  various 
topics,  while  Henry  seemed  to  be  busily  engaged,  in  the  ad 
joining  room,  in  turning  over  the  pages  and  examining  the 
contents  of  a  large  folio  which  lay  before  him. 

*  I  am  ready,  Pa,'  said  H. ;  'I  was  looking  at  what  is  said 
under  the  word  «« Africa,"  in  the  Encyclopedia.     C.  and  I 
have  been  examining  one  book  after  another  a  great  part  of 
the  day,  to  satisfy  ourselves  from  which  of  the  sons  of  Noah 
the  Africans  are  descended.     The  Old  Testament  has  been 
C.'s  chief  book  of  reference,  whilst  Calmet,  and  Brown,  and 
others  have  been  searched  by  me,  I  confess,  without  much 
benefit.' 

Caroline  was  confident  that  their  father  could  give  them 
more  information  on  the  subject  in  one  half  hour  than  they 
might  otherwise  acquire  «  by  a  whole  month's  study.' 

Mr.  L.  remarked,  '  I  think  we  proposed,  last  evening,  to 
glance  first  at  the  history  of  the  African  race  :  the  question 
you  were  agitating,  then,  in  respect  to  their  origin,  is  the 
first  to  be  considered.  On  this  point  we  must  refer  to  a  pe 
riod  which  profane  history  does  not  reach,  but  on  which  the 
word  of  God  sheds  its  holy  light,  teaching  us  that  Africa  was 
planted  by  the  descendants  of  HAM,  the  son  of  Noah. 

*  Ham,  you  will  recollect,  had  four  sons.     Of  these  it  is 
generally  agreed,  that  Cush  settled  in  Lower  Egypt,  and  that 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  21 


Africa,  by  whom  originally  settled. 


from  him  were  descended  the  ancient  ^Ethiopians,  known  to 
us  as  the  Nubians  and  Abyssinians,  and  embracing  also 
those  unknown  nations  inhabiting  the  equatorial  regions  of 
the  African  continent.  Hence,  "  Cush"  is  the  name  applied 
in  the  Hebrew  Bible  to  ^Ethiopia,  embracing  also  in  its  fre 
quent  application  Africa  in  general.  Mizraim,  the  second 
son,  peopled  what  was  known  to  the  ancients  as  the  The- 
bais,  Hermopolis,  Memphis,  and  Delta  of  the  Nile  ;  but  bet 
ter  known  to  us  as  parts  of  Upper  and  Lower  Egypt,  some 
times  called  in  the  Hebrew  scriptures  "  the  land  of  Ham," 
oftener  "  Mizraim."  From  him  also  were  descended  the 
inhabitants  of  Colchis,  the  ancestors  of  the  warlike  Philis 
tines.  Phut,  another  son,  peopled  Lybia  and  Mauritania, 
embracing  the  kingdom  of  Fez,  the  Deserts,  Algiers,  and 
other  portions.  From  these,  with  such  additions  as  emigra 
tion  and  frequent  conquest  have  given,  it  is  probable  that  all 
the  nations  of  Africa,  however  divided,  mixed,  or  dispersed, 
originally  came.' 

Henry  suggested,  'You  have  not  mentioned  Canaan,  tel 
ling  us  where  he  settled  ;  I  suppose,  from  the  omission,  that 
he  settled  in  Asia,  in  the  country  called  by  his  name  ?' 

*  Yes :  Canaan,  the  youngest  son  of  Ham,  settled  in 
"  Canaan,"  so  called  after  him,  which  is  sometimes  called 
in  scripture  "  Judah,"  and  is  also  familiarly  known  by  us  as 
the  "land  of  promise,"  and  is  also  called  "  Palestine."  A 
colony  of  Pho3nicians,  known  in  scripture  as  Canaanites, 
settled  at  Carthage,  and  probably  spread  themselves  over 
other  portions  of  Africa.' 

C.  here  referred  to  an  impression  on  the  minds  of  many, 
that  Africans  generally  are  descended  from  Canaan ;  and 
that  they  are  therefore  doomed  to  perpetual  slavery  by  the 
curse  which  Noah  denounced  against  him,  Genesis  ix.  25 — 
27.  She  thought  she  had  heard  advanced,  or  had  some 
where  read  a  sentiment  of  the  kind. 


22  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


The  curse  denounced  against  Canaan. 


H.  thought  that  they  who  suppose  this,  should  have  better 
reasons  than  they  have  for  considering  the  Africans  descend 
ed  from  Canaan,  before  they  make  such  an  application  of 
the  words  of  Noah.  Being  requested  by  his  father,  he  read 
the  passage:  "Cursed  be  Canaan;  a  servant  of  servants 
shall  he  be  unto  his  brethren.  Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of 
Shem,  and  Canaan  shall  be  his  servant.  God  shall  enlarge 
Japheth,  and  he  shall  dwell  in  the  tents  of  Shem,  and  Ca 
naan  shall  be  his  servant." 

«  That,'  observed  Mr.  L.,  '  is  truly  a  remarkable  prophecy. 
It  is  supposed,  by  Commentators,  to  have  been  recorded  for 
the  encouragement  of  the  Israelites  in  warring  with  the  Ca- 
naanites.  The  passage  is  attended  with  some  difficulty  in 
the  minds  of  many,  who,  to  obviate  that  difficulty,  read  the 
original,  "  Cursed  be  Ham,  i\\e  father  of  Canaan  ;"  in  which 
case  you  see  that  Africa  would,  beyond  doubt,  be  affected  by 
the  denunciation.  And  if  it  have  not  this  meaning,  it  may 
indeed  be  difficult  to  see  the  propriety  of  applying  the  curse 
to  Africa  at  large.' 

It  was  very  natural  that  both  C.  and  H.  who  had  been 
giving  their  close  attention  to  the  instructions  of  Mr.  L., 
should  here  ask,  for  they  did  not  see,  '  why  any  should 
change  the  reading  of  the  translation  to  make  the  curse  rest 
on  Ham  !'  The  difficulty,  however,  which  some  have  found, 
or  imagined,  in  the  proper  application  of  the  denunciation, 
Mr.  L.  explained,  referring  them  to  the  24th  verse  of  the 
same  chapter,  which  verse  immediately  precedes  the  denun 
ciation,  and  reads  as  follows  ;  "  And  awoke  from  his  wine, 
and  knew  what  his  younger  son  had  done  unto  him." 

Henry  now  saw,  at  once,  the  difficulty.  '  His  younger 
son,'  H.  exclaimed  ;  '  Ham  was  Noah's  second  son,  was  he 
not,  Pa  ?' 

*  Yes ;  it  appears  that  Ham  was  the  second,  and  not  the 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  23 


The  curse  explained. 


youngest,  as  they  suppose  is  implied  by  the  term  in  the 
original  translated  younger.  But  the  way  in  which  Ham  is 
introduced  in  connexion  with  the  subject  of  Noah's  intoxi 
cation  and  exposure,  ("  And  Ham,  the  father  of  Canaan, 
saw  the  nakedness  of  his  father,  and  told  it  to  his  two 
brethren  without/')  has  led  some  to  infer  that  Ham  was 
the  youngest.  At  the  same  time,  the  frequent  mention  of 
Canaan,  in  connexion  with  the  transaction,  has  suggested  to 
the  mind  of  others  that  Canaan  was  also  criminal ;  and,  by 
them,  the  expression,  "  knew  what  his  younger  son  had 
done,"  is  thought  to  refer  to  Canaan,  the  grandson.  Ca 
naan,  they  suppose,  first  discovered  Noah's  situation  and  told 
it  to  Ham.* 

'  Be  all  this  as  it  may,  the  history  of  this  painful  trans 
action,  is  full  of  serious  instruction.  You  see  a  very  strik 
ing  contrast  between  the  conduct  of  Ham  in  exposing  to  his 
brethren  Noah's  disgraceful  fall,  and  their  commendable  de 
portment  in  doing  what  they  could  to  conceal  their  father's 
infirmity  and  guilt.  It  is  very  evident  that  Ham  could  lay 
claim  to  none  of  the  finer  sensibilities  of  our  nature  if  judged 
by  this  one  act.  His  behaviour  was  exceeding  unamiable 
and  reprehensible ;  and  he  must  have  felt  the  rebuke  to  be 
deserved,  when  his  own  father  was  inspired  to  predict  the 
consequent  oppression  and  slavery  of  his  posterity.  And 
Canaan,  if  guilty,  as  has  been  supposed,  was  as  severely  re 
buked,  knowing  that  the  curse  would  rest  especially  on  that 
branch  of  the  family  which  should  descend  from  himself. 
The  example  of  Shem  and  Japheth  on  the  occasion,  is 
worthy  of  commendation  ;  and  a  blessing  belongs  to  those 
who  imitate  their  amiable  deportment,  as  a  curse  assuredly 

*  "The  Hebrews  believe  that  Canaan,  having  first  discovered  Noah's 
nakedness,  told  his  father  Ham  ;  and  that  Noah,  when  he  awoke,  having 
understood  what  had  passed,  cursed  Canaan,  the  first  reporter  of  his  expo 
sure.  Others  are  of  opinion,  that  Noah,  knowing  nothing  more  displeasing 
to  Ham,  than  cursing  Canaan,  resolved  to  punish  him  in  his  son." — Calmet. 


24  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


The  curse  fulfilled. 


awaits  all  who  copy  in  their  spirit  or  conduct  the  pattern  of 
Ham  and  Canaan. 

*  To  your  inquiry,  Henry,  whether  the  prediction  of 
Noah  has  been  evidently  fulfilled  in  the  descendants  of  Ham 
or  Canaan,  I  would  reply,  that  if  we  are  to  consider  the 
curse  as  resting  on  the  descendants  of  Ham  generally,  we 
may  see  its  fulfilment  in  the  wrongs  which  unhappy  Africa 
has  suffered  by  the  oppression  and  servitude  to  which  her 
children  have  so  long  been  subjected.  The  history  of  Af 
rica  for  a  long  period,  has  been,  for  the  most,  one  of  deep 
suffering,  ignominy,  outrage  and  crime ;  a  tale  of  sorrow 
broken  by  few  intervals  of  happiness  or  of  rest.  It  has 
been  justly  remarked  of  the  whole  continent  that  it  "has 
lain,  like  some  huge  and  passive  victim,  with  darkness 
throned  like  an  incubus  upon  its  bosom,  while  every  rep 
tile  of  evil  omen  and  hateful  form  has  preyed  undisturbed 
on  its  palsied  extremities."  At  the  North  of  Africa,  "  the 
conflicting  interest  and  crooked  policy  of  Europe  permitting 
an  organized  system  of  piracy ;"  Egypt,  from  the  days  of 
Cambyses,  a  tributary  province,  and  prey  of  the  rapacious 
Mameluke  ;  in  Abyssinia,  the  lamp  of  Christian  truth  glim 
mering  in  its  socket,  and  casting  its  flickering  beams  on  a 
degraded  and  brutalized  population ;  ignorance  and  barbar 
ism  consolidated  and  established  by  Mahometan  influence  in 
the  South  of  Africa ;  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  human 
nature  degraded  and  oppressed ;  and  on  the  West  of  Africa, 
the  slave  factory  and  slave  ship  doing  their  accursed  work 
and  sweeping  into  distant  and  hopeless  bondage  unhappy 
thousands,  Africa  may  truly  be  said  to  have  had  the  very 
dregs  of  bitter  affliction  wrung  out  to  her.' 

'  But  what,  Sir,  if  the  denunciation  of  Noah  is  considered 
to  be  against  Canaan  and  his  posterity  alone  ?' 

1  We  shall  still  be  at  no  loss  to  find  in  their  history  a  re- 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  25 


The  enslaving  of  Africans  not  to  he  justified. 


markable  fulfilment.  The  devoted  nations  which  God  de 
stroyed  before  Israel,  were  descended  from  Canaan  ;  and  so 
were  the  Phrenicians,  and  the  Carthagenians  who  were  sub 
jugated  with  dreadful  destruction  by  the  Greeks  and  Ro 
mans.  The  descendants  of  Canaan,  as  a  general  knowledge 
of  the  outlines  of  history  will  be  sufficient  to  show,  have 
been  subjected  to  those  of  Shem  and  Japjieth  through  many 
generations.' 

'  The  whole  posterity  of  Ham  then  appear  to  have  been 
signally  the  victims  of  misfortune  and  oppression  ?' 

1  They  certainly  have,  my  son.' 

*  I  have  been  running  my  eye  over  this  Commentary,'  said 
C.,  *  on  the  passage  of  scripture  to  which  we  have  referred  ; 
shall  I  read  a  sentence  ?  Bishop  Newton,  you  will  see,  Pa, 
takes  it  for  granted  that  the  curse  denounced  is  upon  Ham 
and  all  his  descendants.1 

'  Read  it,  Caroline.' 

Caroline  reads  the  sentence  she  proposed  :  "  The  whole 
continent  of  Africa  was  peopled  principally  by  the  de 
scendants  of  Ham  ;*  and  for  many  ages  have  the  better 
parts  of  that  country  lain  under  the  dominion  of  the  Romans, 
and  then  of  the  Saracens,  and  now  of  the  Turks  !  In  what 
wickedness,  ignorance,  barbarity,  slavery,  and  misery,  live 
most  of  the  inhabitants  ! — and  of  the  poor  negroes,  how 
many  hundreds,  every  year,  are  sold  and  bought,  like  beasts 
in  the  market,  and  conveyed  from  one  quarter  of  the  world 
to  do  the  work  of  beasts  in  another !"  '  But,  Pa,'  said  she, 
*  even  if  the  whole  race  of  Africans  are  embraced  in  the 
curse,  it  does  not  therefore  afford  a  vindication  of  slavery, 
or  excuse  for  the  cruel  oppression  of  the  African,  does  it  ?' 

*  From  the  name  of  HAM,  also  written  Cham,  signifying  burnt,  swarthy, 
black,  an  argument  has  sometimes  been  raised  in  favor  of  this  position. — See 
Calmet. 


26  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Africa  not  always  to  be  oppressed. 


'  No,  Caroline  :  God  has  not,  as  I  think,  authorized  us  to 
enslave  Africans,  whatever  authority  may  be  claimed  for 
Israel  to  drive  out,  and  scatter  and  destroy  the  idolatrous 
Canaanites.  The  covetous  desires  and  barbarous  practices 
of  those  who  seek  to  enrich  themselves  with  the  products  of 
the  sweat  and  blood  of  Africa's  unhappy  sons,  and  for  this 
purpose  tear  them  away  from  their  native  country,  are  with 
out  apology.  Nor,  whether  the  prediction  and  denunciation 
of  Noah  affect  Canaan  and  his  descendants  alone,  or  Ham 
and  his  posterity  generally,  is  it  to  be  supposed  that  Africa 
is  therefore  either  the  lawful  prey  of  violence  and  outrage, 
or  that  she  is  doomed  to  perpetual  degradation  and  wrongs. 
Admitting  that  the  prediction  has  been  remarkably  fulfilled, 
whether  on  Canaan,  or  Africa  generally,  and  that  however 
wicked  the  oppressor  has  been,  he  was  a  scourge  in  the 
hand  of  God,  fulfilling  a  just  decree,  and  an  important  pre 
diction  involving  the  authenticity  of  a  portion  of  the  sacred 
volume  ;  still,  neither  are  the  oppressors  therefore  innocent, 
nor  are  we  to  suppose  that  the  oppressed  are  never  to  cease 
to  be  the  victims  of  the  denunciatory  decree.  The  same 
Scriptures  which,  turning  to  Africa,  appeal  for  one  testimony 
of  their  truth  to  the  fulfilment  of  the  curse,  are,  we  should 
remember,  also  to  gather  another  argument  from  the  fulfil 
ment  of  the  prediction  which  says — "  ^Ethiopia  shall  soon 
stretch  out  her  hands  unto  God."  This  prediction  and 
promise  must  be  fulfilled,  nor  can  all  creation  stay  the 
Almighty  arm  that  will  be  uplifted  to  break  the  rod  of  her 
oppressors,  Africa  will  be  free.  Her  chains  will  fall. 

*  We  will  resume  the  subject  this  evening.' 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  27 


^Ethiopia  shall  stretch  out  her  hands  unto  God. 


CONVERSATION   III. 

"  How  are  we  astonished  when  we  reflect  that  to  the  race  of  negroes,  at 
present  our  slaves,  and  the  object  of  our  extreme  contempt,  we  owe  our  arts 
and  sciences  and  even  the  very  use  of  speech  ;  and  that  in  the  midst  of  those 
nations  who  call  themselves  the  friends  of  liberty  and  humanity,  involuntary 
servitude  is  justified,  while  it  is  even  a  problem  whether  the  understanding 
of  Negroes  be  of  the  same  species  with  that  of  white  men." — Volney. 

'  WELL,  Pa,  I  suppose  you  remember  the  encouragement 
which  you  gave  us  that  you  would  resume  the  interesting 
subject  of  Africa  this  evening  ?'  said  Caroline,  as  she  saw 
her  father  lay  aside  the  '  Evening  News'  and  remove  his 
spectacles  from  his  eyes,  the  well  known  signal  to  the  chil 
dren  that  the  hour  of  leisure  was  come.  *  You  closed  the 
conversation,  this  morning,  with  reference  to  that  important 
prediction  of  Scripture,  "  ^Ethiopia  shall  soon  stretch  out 
her  hands  unto  God;"  are  we  to  understand  the  Prophet 
who  utters  this,  to  have  reference  to  Africa  generally,  or  to 
the  descendants  of  Cush,  the  grandson  of  Noah  only  ?' 

4  The  word  ^Ethiopia  in  our  English  Bibles,  it  is  true,  is 
Cush  in  the  original  Hebrew  ;  but  the  term  seems  to  have 
a  more  extended  application  than  the  names  of  either  of 
Ham's  other  sons.  Cush,  or  ^Ethiopia,  is  a  name  by  which 
Africans  in  general  have  been  known.  Whether  it  is  be 
cause  the  race  of  Africans  are  mostly  descendants  of  Cush, 
which  I  think  highly  probable,  that  this  term  is  more  used, 
I  am  not  able  to  determine  ;  but  such  is  the  fact — ^Ethiopia 
is  a  term  of  extensive  application.' 

Henry  having  here  inquired  «  whether  the  Cushites,  or 
^Ethiopians,  were  always  black,'  Mr.  L.  replied,  '  There 
can  be  no  doubt  that  this  people  were  black  as  long  ago  as 
ike  days  of  Jeremiah  ;  and.,  if  w.e  are  to  credit  Arabian 


28  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


Color  of  Africans. 


monies,  ages  before.  Jeremiah  asks,  "  Can  the  Cushite 
(^Ethiopian)  change  his  skin  ?"  ^Ethiopian  is  a  name  de 
rived  from  two  Greek  words  denoting  the  color  of  the  skin, 
(auSce,  to  burn,  and  a^,  the  countenance — that  is,  burnt-face,) 
on  account  of  the  Cushite's  dark  complexion.' 


'  What,'  asked  Henry,  '  was  the  complexion  of  the  an 
cient  Egyptians  ;  were  they  black  also  ?' 

4  Herodotus,  who,  you  know,  is  called  the  father  of  his 
tory,  says,  speaking  of  the  ancient  Colchos,  since  called 
Mingrelia,  whose  inhabitants  were  originally  Egyptians,  and 
colonized  when  Sesostris,  king  of  Egypt,  extended  his  con 
quests  in  the  north,  "  For  my  part,  I  believe  the  Colchi  to 
be  a  colony  of  Egyptians,  because,  like  them,  they  have 
black  skins  and  frizzled  hair"*  The  inhabitants  of  Egypt, 

*In  another  place  this  celebrated  historian,  who  flourished  in  the  fifth  cen 
tury  before  the  coming  of  Christ,  and  who  travelled  extensively  in  Egypt, 
and  one  of  whose  books  is  devoted  to  a  description  of  its  inhabitants,  their 
manners,  customs,  character,  arts  and  history,  derived  from  personal  inspection 
of  the  country  and  the  narratives  of  their  learned  men,  relates  a  fabulous  ac 
count  of  the  establishment  of  the  temple  of  Dodona  in  Greece,  by,  as  he  ex 
plains  the  fable,  an  Egyptian  priestess,  represented  by  a  black  dove ;  and 
says  that  the  circumstance  of  its  "  being  black  explains  the  Egyptian  origin 
of  the  priestess."  In  speaking  of  these  remarks  of  Herodotus,  Volney  says, 
"  it  shows  that  the  ancient  Egyptians  were  real  negroes,  of  the  same  species 
with  all  the  natives  of  Africa :  and  though,  as  might  be  expected,  after  mix 
ing  for  so  many  ages  with  the  Greeks  and  Romans,  they  have  lost  the  in 
tensity  of  their  first  color,  yet  they  still  retain  strong  marks  of  their  original 
conformation."  Diodorus  Siculus,  another  ancient  historian,  informs  us  that 
"  the  Ethiopians  consider  the  Egyptians  as  one  of  thgjr  colonies."  It  may 
greatly  startle  some  who  have  heard  of  "  the  fame  of  Egypt's  wisdom — of 
the  gigantic  size  of  her  eternal  pyramids — the  splendor  of  her  twenty-thous 
and  cities — of  Thebes  with  her  hundred  gates  and  superb  palaces  and  tem 
ples — of  the  wisdom  of  her  laws  and  policy — of  her  mighty  conqueror  SE 
SOSTRIS,  who  drew  kings  at  his  chariot  wheels  and  left  monumental  inscrip 
tions  of  his  prowess  from  Ethiopia  to  India,"  to  be  told  that  "  Egypt — an 
cient,  renowned,  victorious  Egypt,  the  mother  of  science  and  arts,  both  an 
cient  and  modern,  was  inhabited  by  negroes — that  Egyptians  were  in  fact 
black  and  curly -headed,"  especially  if  they  have  been  accustomed  to  think 
with  a  distinguished  governor  of  the  south,  that  God  has  "stamped  inferiority 
and  slavery  on  the  negroes'  brow-"  The  author,  however,  does  not  here  un 
dertake  to  settle  this  question — his  object  is  impartially  to  state  the  facts 
in  the  case.  There  are  many  that  have  high  claim  to  literature  who  un 
hesitatingly  contend  that  the  negro  may  prove  "  his  illustrious  consanguini- 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  29 


Different  tribes  of  Africa  assimilated. 


however,  have  long  been  a  mixed  community  of  Copts, 
Arabs,  Greeks,  Armenians,  Turks,  and  Mamelukes.  The 
Copts  are  generally  supposed  to  be  the  representatives  of 
the  ancient  Egyptians,  and  it  is  said  prove  their  origin  by  a 
striking  resemblance  to  the  paintings  and  sculptures  of  the 
ancient  temples,  and  to  the  mummies.*  They  are  generally 
described  as  of  a  dusky  complexion,  dark  and  curled  hair, 
thick  lips,  and  scanty  beard.  In  some  features,  they  differ 
from  the  negro  race  on  the  western  coast  of  Africa,  and  in 
the  interior.  There  are,  indeed,  slight  shades  of  variety 
which  distinguish  all  the  different  tribes  of  Africa.  It 
may  not  be  necessary  to  enter  on  a  particular  description  of 
each.  However  diversified  may  be  the  different  tribes, 

ty,  allied  in  blood — in  brotherhood — in  color — even  in  his  short  and  curling 
hair  to  the  conquerors  and  instructors  of  mankind." 

The  Hon.  Alexander  H.  Everett,  a  finished  scholar  of  great  research,  and 
who  would  not  make  the  assertion  inconsiderately,  has  said  of  them,  "  It  is 
sometimes  pretended,  that,  though  Africans,  and  of  Ethiopian  extraction, 
they  were  not  black.  But  what  says  the  lather  of  history,  who  had  travel- 
Jed  among  them,  and  knew  their  appearance  as  well  as  we  know  that  of  our 
neighbors  in  Canada?  Herodotus  tells  us  that  the  Egyptians  were  blacks, 
with  curled  hair.  Some  writers  have  undertaken  to  dispute  his  authority, 
•but  I  cannot  bring  myself  to  believe  that  the  father  of  history  did  not  know 
black  from  white." 

*  It  may  be  proper  here  to  remark  that  there  has  been  some  diversity  of 
opinon  among  the  learned  in  regard  to  the  character  of  Egyptian  mummies. 
"  Blumenbach  has  observed  in  the  craniums  of  mummies  that  which  cha 
racterizes  the  negro  race."  Volney  "saw  the  figure  of  a  sphynx,  (an  ancient 
monster  of  Egypt,)  and  found  the  features  exactly  those  of  a  negro."  Gre- 
goire,  and  many  others,  adhere  to  the  opinions  of  Volney  and  Blumenbach. 
The  present  Copts,  descendants  from  the  ancient  Egyptia'ns,  but  mixed  with 
the  Persians  and  still  more  with  the  Greeks,  have  appeared  to  some,  perfect 
mulattoes.  Mr.  Browne,  a  late  traveller,  could  see  in  them  no  resemblance 
to  the  negro  features  or  form,  and  affirms  that  their  dusky  brown  and  no 
darker  color,  is  found  in  the  paintings  of  the  tombs  of  Thebes,  and  that  the 
ancient  monuments,  paintings  and  statues,  generally  exhibit  the  visage,  not 
of  negroes,  but  of  the  modern  Copts.  If  the  same  form  of  skull  is  found  in 
the  Egyptian  mummies,  as  Blumenbach  asserts,  and  once  contained,  as  Vol 
ney  says,  the  profound  genius  of  the  Egyptians  ;  and  if  it  be  a  fact,  as  it  un 
doubtedly  is,  that  the  modern  Copts  are  descended  from  the  ancient  Egyp 
tians  by  a  mixture  of  the  blood  of  other  nations,  the  presumption  is  strong  in 
favor  of  the  idea  that  the  Egyptians  were  negroes — especially  when  these 
facts  are  taken  in  connexion  with  the  testimony  of  ancient  historians.  The 
argument  derived  from  the  ancient  paintings,  monuments,  &.c.,  has  its  weight, 
however,  and  especially  if  the  testimony  of  traveJlere  on  this  point  should 
jaoi  he  .contradictory. 


30  PLEA   FOR  AFRICA. 


Traditions  respecting  Gush. 


there  can  be  no  doubt  of  their  common  origin  as  descendants 
of  Ham,  if  we  except  those  who  have  from  time  to  time  mi 
grated  from  other  portions  of  the  earth  ;  nor  can  there  be 
any  reasonable  doubt  that  the  African  "  Gush,"  or  "  ^Ethio 
pia,"  is  the  appropriate  term  or  representative  of  the  African 
race  in  general.  Commentators  differ,  it  is  true,  in  respect 
to  the  countries  which  were  originally  included  under  the 
name  '  ./Ethiopia ;'  Michaelis  supposes  it  to  include  African 
^Ethiopia  and  Southern  Arabia  ;  Gesenius  says  it  is  to  be 
confined  in  its  application  to  Africa  alone.  Rosenmiiiler 
contends  that  it  embraces  all  countries  whose  inhabitants 
were  black.  There  is,  certainly,  a  striking  accordance  of 
complexion,  language,  manners,  customs,  &c.  by  which  the 
inhabitants  of  the  south  and  west  of  Africa,  and  all  those 
who  are  known  to  be  of  ^Ethiopian  extraction,  are  assimi 
lated.' 

'  The  complexion  of  Africans  is  caused  by  climate,  is  it 
not,  Pa  ?' 

*  I  suspect,  Henry,  that  neither  the  African  complexion, 
nor  features,  can  be  ascribed  wholly  to  climate  :  but  must  be 
referred  to  native  variety  at  first,  perpetuated  by  intermar 
riages  among  the  same  race.5 

1  Just,  I  suppose,  as  a  part  of  the  same  brood  being  white 
and  a  part  black,  each  sort  may  be  perpetuated,  as  natural 
ists  tell  us,  by  pairing  together  those  of  the  same  color  ?'  said 
Henry. 

Caroline  here  remarked,  '  Mr.  Bruce,  the  traveller,  says, 
he  found  in  Abyssinia,  a  tradition  which  had  been  handed 
down  from  time  immemorial,  that  Gush  was  their  father, 
and  that  he  actually  dwelt  there.  The  tradition  purports 
that,  soon  after  the  flood,  Gush,  the  grandson  of  Noah,  with 
his  family,  still  terrified  with  the  remembrance  of  the  flood, 
and  fearing  a  repetition  of  the  same  calamity,  dared  not  re- 


PLEA   FOR    AFRICA.  31 


Obscurity  of  the  early  history  of  the  Africans. 


main  in  the  plains,  but  travelled  until  he  came  to  certain 
mountains  in  Abyssinia,  and  there  settled.  It  says,  further, 
that  there  Cush  and  his  people,  (with  indescribable  labor, 
requiring  arts  and  instruments  utterly  unknown  to  us,) 
formed  themselves  commodious  and  wonderful  habitations, 
composed  of  solid  granite  and  marble,  which  dwellings  are 
now  entire,  and  will  remain  so  till  the  consummation  of  all 
things ;  and  that  still  avoiding  the  low  countries,  they  ad 
vanced  along  the  different  ridges  and  chains  of  mountains 
across  the  whole  continent  of  Africa.  The  more  Henry  and 
I  examine  into  this  subject,  however,  the  more  difficult  it 
seems  to  determine  satisfactorily  and  beyond  the  possibility 
of  contradiction,  which,  if  either,  alone,  of  the  sons  of  Ham, 
is  entitled  to  the  honor  of  being  considered  the  principal 
progenitor  of  the  African  race.  We  have  felt  great  curiosity, 
since  our  last  conversation,  to  find  from  the  books  the  argu 
ments  which  go  to  show  that  the  Africans,  as  the  descendants 
of  Canaan,  are  suffering  their  present  degradation  in  fulfil 
ment  of  the  curse  pronounced  by  Noah.  Our  examination 
only  renders  "  darkness  more  visible."  One  author  quotes 
from  Procopius,  who  says,  that  when  the  Canaanites  were 
driven  from  their  country  by  the  Israelites,  they  first  re 
treated  into  Egypt,  and  gradually  penetrated  the  continent 
of  Africa,  where  they  built  many  cities,  and  spread  them' 
selves  over  vast  regions,  till  they  reached  the  straits  of  Gib 
raltar.  This  would  embrace  the  whole  northern  part  of 
Africa,  or  the  Barbary  States.  This  author  says,  that  in  the 
ancient  city  of  Tongis,  founded  by  them,  were  two  great 
pillars  of  white  stone,  near  a  large  fountain,  inscribed  with 
Phoenician  characters,  "  We  are  people  preserved  by  flight 
from  the  robber  Jesus,  (Joshua,)  the  son  of  Naver,  who  pur 
sued  us."  Another  author  says,  "in  the  time  of  Athanasius, 
the  Africans  continued  to  say  that  they  were  descended  from 


32  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Interior  of  Africa  but  little  known. 


the  Canaanites,  and  when  asked  their  origin,  they  answered 
<  Canani.9  " 

'  All  this,  said  Mr.  L.,  '  is  in  corroboration  of  the  position 
which  I  have  taken.    Admitting  that  the  Canaanites  mingled 
with  other  tribes  in  Egypt  and  all  along  the  coast  of  the  Me 
diterranean  to  the  Strait  of  Gibraltar,  still  we  must  look  for 
the  peopling  of  the  vast  interior  of  Africa,  and  the  west  and 
south,  from  another  source.     It  is  almost  a  matter  of  demon 
stration,  that  the  Cushites  settled  the  greater  part  of  Africa; 
for  such  is  the  geographical  situation  of  the  country,  as  you 
will  see  at  once  by  the  map,  that  the  natives  bordering  the 
Mediterranean  coast,  are  separated  from  the  rest  of  the  con 
tinent  by  an  almost  boundless  and  impassable  wilderness — 
the  Lybian  desert  and  the  great  desert  of  Sahara,  which,  to 
gether,  extend  across  the  continent  from  the  west  of  Egypt 
to   the  Atlantic  ocean.     The  deserts  are  an  ocean  of  sand, 
and  in  some  places  eight  hundred  miles  in  breadth.     This, 
the  only  highway  to  the  south  and  interior  of  Africa,  was 
occupied  by  the  Cushites,  who  had  nothing  to  prevent  them 
from  spreading  into  all  regions  south  now  occupied  by  the 
negro  race.     It  makes  but  little  difference,  however,  from 
which  of  the  grandsons  of  Noah  the  natives  of  this,  that,  or 
the  other  part  of  Africa  are  descended.     There  is  intellect 
among  them  all.     They  have  had  their  distinguished  men 
in  every  tribe,  so  far  as  we  have  known  any  thing  concern 
ing  the  different  tribes,  and  there  is,  and  can  be  no  impedi 
ment,  no  anathema  of  heaven,  no  forfeiture  of  their  right  as 
men  among  men,   which  can  justify  their  being  torn  from 
the  scenes  of  domestic  life,  from  country  and  home,  to  spend 
their  days  in  bondage.     There  is  nothing,  and  can  be  noth 
ing  to  annul  and  defeat  the  decree  which  sounds  from  the 
throne  of  the  Eternal,  "  Ethiopia  shall  soon  stretch  out  her 
hands  unto  GocL" ' 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  33 


Africa's  ancient  glory. 


'  I  have  no  doubt,  Pa,  that  the  view  which  you  have  taken 
of  the  subject  is  correct.  I  think  it  is,  on  the  whole,  of  very 
little  importance  whether  most  of  the  blood  of  Cush,  or  Ca 
naan,  of  Mizraim,  or  Phut,  runs  in  the  veins  of  the  present 
population  of  Africa.  It  seems  that  they  have  been  higher 
than  they  now  are  in  the  scale  of  intellectual  and  moral  at 
tainments,  and  they  may  rise  again  for  aught  we  know.  I 
have  the  impression,  Pa,  that  very  little  of  the  interior  of 
Africa  is  at  present  known  by  the  people  of  other  countries  ?* 

*Yes,  my  daughter,  very  little,  comparatively.  Bruce, 
Ledyard,  Park,  Riley,  Bowdich,  Denham,  Clapperton, 
Laing,  the  Landers,  and  numerous  adventurers  have  from 
time  to  time  added  to  our  store  of  information ;  but  still  com 
paratively  little  is  known.  To  penetrate  far  into  the  heart 
of  Africa  has  been  found  so  difficult  and  arduous  a  perform 
ance,  that  it  has  been  but  very  partially  accomplished.  Still, 
enough  is  known  of  Africa  in  respect  to  her  ancient  glory, 
and  her  present  susceptibility  of  mental  and  moral  impres 
sions,  to  authorize  the  expectation  that  she  may  be  raised  to 
a  high  rank  of  moral  worth,  and  of  intellectual  respectability. 
That  continent  which,  notwithstanding  her  present  degra 
dation,  is  pronounced  in  history  by  common  consent  the 
birth-place  and  cradle  of  civilization  and  of  the  arts  and 
sciences,  cannot  always,  must  not  long  be  shrouded  in  dark 
ness,  and  borne  down  by  oppression.  Seeing  what  Africa 
has  been,  and  what  she  may  yet  be,  our  sympathies  en 
kindle  towards  her.  It  cannot  be  otherwise  than  that  they 
will. 

*  The  Cushites,  or  ^Ethiopians,  let  me  tell  you,  established 
the  first  regular  police  which  history  records.  The  first 
great  city  described  in  history  was  built  by  them.  They 
surrounded  it  with  walls,  which,  according  to  Rollin,  were 
eighty-seven  feet  in  thickness,  three  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in 


34  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Africa's  ancient  glory — Light  from  Africa  on  other  lands. 

height,  and  four  hundred  and  eighty  furlongs  in  circumfer 
ence.  And  even  this  stupendous  work  they  shortly  after 
eclipsed  by  another,  of  which  Diodorus  says,  "Never  did 
any  city  come  up  to  the  greatness  and  magnificence  of  this. 
Pyramids,  obelisks,  and  mausolea  still  stand,  as  if  in  mockery 
of  the  very  credulity  of  man,  a  memorial  of  that  spirit  of  dar 
ing  enterprise  and  skill  which  made  Egypt  the  mother  of 
science,  and,  for  a  time,  the  mistress  of  the  world  !" 

'It  is  a  fact  well  attested  by  history,  that  ^Ethiopians 
once  bare  sway  not  only  in  all  Africa,  but  over  almost  all 
Asia.  And  it  is  said  that  even  two  continents  could  not  afford 
field  enough  for  the  expansion  of  their  energies.  "  They 
found  their  way  into  Europe,  and  made  the  settlement  on 
the  western  coast  of  Spain,  called  from  them  'Iberian  ^Ethio 
pia.'"  And,  says  a  distinguished  writer,  "  wherever  they 
went,  they  were  rewarded  for  their  wisdom." 

1  That  very  light  which  long  since  blazed  before  the  world 
in  Greece  and  Rome,  and  which  now  rises  to  its  noon-day 
splendor,  under  the  auspices  of  Christianity,  in  Europe  and 
America,  be  it  remembered,  rny  dear  children,  was  kindled 
on  the  dark  shores  of  Africa.*  When  I  think  of  these  things, 

*  "  It  was  during  the  18th  dynasty  of  Egyptian  kings  that  the  first  coloniza 
tion  of  Greece  took  place.  Three  steps  lead  us  from  Athens  through  Rome 
to  the  institutions  of  England  ;  to  all  and  every  of  the  advantages  and  bless 
ings  we  possess  of  fully  developed  civilization.  *  *  With  them,  civilized 
society  may  be  said  to  have  originated  on  the  wreck  of  the  cyclopean  or 
pastoral  community  ;  and  during  this  dynasty  all  the  most  momentous  events 
connected  with  the  human  race  appear  to  have  occurred.  Toythis  dynasty, 
either  at  its  origin  or  during  its  progress,  may  be  traced  the  greatest  events 
that  concern  our  social  well-being  at  this  very  day — the"  establishment  of 
judicial,  legislative,  and  fiscal  departments  of  government  be  assigned  to 
it — and  of  the  whole  frame-work  of  political  mechanism  necessary  to  give 
motion,  steadiness,  and  permanence  to  the  social  machine.  *  *  The  sub 
lime  and  magnificent  monuments  erected  by  this  ancient  race  of  monarchs 
on  the  plain  embraced  by  •  the  hundred-gated  Thebes'  attest  to  this  day, 
their  taste,  their  ambition,  their  wealth,  and  their  power.  They  suggest 
ideas  of  the  works  of  fabled  enchanters  rather  than  of  ordinary  human  be 
ings.  It  was  on  that  myriad-columned  plain,  beneath  its  gorgeous  archways 
and  gigantic  colonnades,  that  Champollion,  in  the  excited  language  of  as 
tonishment,  exclaimed,  '  these  porticoes  must  be  the  work  of  men  one  him- 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  35 


Africa's  light  reflected  on  Africa  again. 


my  spirit  stirs  within  me,  and  I  am  almost  impatient  to  see 
that  light  reflected  back  on  Africa  again — yes,  the  light  of 
science  combined  with  the  glorious  light  of  the  gospel  of 
Christ.' 

dred  feet  in  height !'  It  appeared  to  me,  says  Belzoni,  like  entering  a  city 
of  giants.  Rossellini's  illustrations  prove  that  imagination  itself  has  scarcely 
invested  this  line  of  potentates  with  attributes  of  too  surprising  a  character: 
Rossellini  proves,  that  so  far  from  making  any  extraordinary  advance  in  the 
arts,  contributing  to  the  splendor  or  the  comfort  of  society,  we  have  yet  to 
recover  artes  perdilce,  (lost  arts)  known  to  the  Pharaohs  of  the  dynasty  to 
which  we  refer.  There  are  many  effects  of  art  which  the  Egyptians  at  this 
time  produced,  which  we  are  not  capable  of  accomplishing.  Some  rest  on  con 
temporary  evidence,  others  are  demonstrated  by  the  palpable  evidence 
brought  before  our  eyes  by  Rossellini,  (pictorial  representations  taken  from 
the  walla  of  Egyptian  temples.)  We  see  the  sculptors  in  the  act  of  cutting 
the  inscriptions  on  the  granite,  obelisk  and  tablets ;  we  see  a  pictorial  copy 
of  the  chisel  and  tools  with  which  this  operation  was  performed.  But  our 
tools  would  not  cut  this  stone  with  the  precision  of  outline  which  the  in 
scriptions  retain  to  this  day.  Setting  aside  the  lost  art  of  hardening  copper 
implements  of  war,  what  means  had  the  Egyptians  of  hardening  their  iron 
or  steel  implements  for  the  purpose  in  question?  We  have  at  all  events  lost 
this  art.  The  same  arguments  may  apply  to  some  of  their  cameos  and  in 
taglios,  with  this  addition,  that  the  minute  delicacy  of  their  details  could 
only  be  effected  by  means  of  a  microscope.  We  could  not  produce  them 
without  its  aid.  The  Hebrew  legislator  inferentially  ascribes  to  the  Egyp 
tian  chemist  the  art  of  making  gold  liquid  and  of  retaining  it  in  that  state. 
This  we  have  not  the  power  to  do.  The  productions  of  the  goldsmiths  and 
silversmiths  of  Thebes  are  exhibited  (pictorially)  by  Rossellini.  He  exhibits 
gold  and  silver  tureens,  urns,  vases,  &c.,  of  the  most  exquisitely  beautiful 
workmanship,  and  tasteful  as  well  as  magnificent  forms.  An  Egyptian  side 
board,  with  all  its  details,  not  excluding  dishes,  plates,  knives  and  spoons, 
near  4,000  years  ago,  bore  striking  resemblance  to  the  sideboards  of  our 
modern  palaces  and  villas.  Not  the  slightest  improvement  lias  been  made 
in  the  tasteful  forms  of  their  household  furniture  to  this  day.  After  our 
enumeration  of  some  of  the  early  arts,  including  the  arlesperditce,  of  ancient 
Egypt,  our  readers  may  have  been  tempted  to  exclaim,  "there  is  nothing 
new  under  the  sun!"  But  the  exclamation  would  be  still  more  justifiable 
and  appropriate  after  a  complete  survey  of  the  trades  and  manufactures  of 
Egypt  (exhibited  in  Rossellini's  representations  copied  from  the  Egyptian 
temples.)  The  whole  process  of  manufacturing  silk  and  cotton,  with  all  its 
details  of  reeling,  carding,  weaving,  dyeing,  and  patterning,  may  be  more 
especially  named." — Foreign  Quarterly  Review. 

"  Mankind  instead  of  advancing,  are  just  attaining  to  the  standard  of  an 
cient  African  science  and  art.  *  *  The  tables  indeed  are  turned ;  the 
African  has  fallen  from  his  peerless  elevation.  He  now  withers  under  the 
shadow  and  the  strong  arm  of  the  w  hite  man  ;  but  let  him  be  transplant 
ed-— let  him  be  returned  to  his  native  home,  bearing  back  with  him  the  de 
rived  arts,  science  and  civilization  of  his  ancestors,  and  once  more  he  shall 
regain— ^-perhaps  surpass  his  ancient  glory."— ^Cincinnati  Jour.  $  Luminary. 


36  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 

Great  reverses  often  in  the  history  of  nations. 


CONVERSATION   IV. 

"  Cruel  as  death,  insatiate  as  the  grave, 

False  as  the  winds  that  round  his  vessel  blow, 

Remorseless  as  the  gulf  that  yawns  below, 

Is  he  who  toils  upon  the  wafting  flood, 

A  Christian  broker  in' the  trade  of  blood." — Montgomery. 

'  I  AM  glad,  Pa,'  said  Caroline  to  her  father,  who  had  given 
intimation  of  his  disposition  to  take  up  the  subject  again  after 
tea,  and  who  had  just  risen  from  the  table  and  seated  himself 
in  his  chair  by  the  fire,  '  that  we  may  again  claim  a  little  of 
your  time,  and  tax  your  kindness  to  tell  us  more  of  Africa. 
I  shall  certainly  think  more  of  that  much  injured  quarter  of 
the  globe  for  the  time  to  come,  and  shall  abhor  slavery  more 
than  ever.  What  strange  reverses  there  are  in  the  history 
of  man  !  We  should  never  suppose  from  any  thing  that  is 
seen  in  Africa  now,  that  she  was  ever  distinguished  for  any 
thing  but  ignorance,  barbarism,  and  brutality.' 

«  There  is  much,  my  daughter,  to  be  seen  in  Africa  even 
noWj  of  her  former  greatness.  There  is  yet  to  be  found 
honor,  bravery,  intellect,  genius,  learning,  and  rank.*  We 
have  had  proof  of  this  from  among  those  who,  as  victims  of 
our  cupidity,  have  been  transported  as  slaves  to  this  boasted 
land  of  freedom.  Amongst  them  have  been  torn  away,  in 
some  instances,  the  Princes  of  Africa,  and  others  of  her  dis 
tinguished  ones.  They  came  oppressed,  their  noble  spirits 
broken  down,  the  whole  man  subdued  by  the  extinction  of 
the  last  ray  of  hope,  severed  from  all  on  earth  most  dear,  and 
stepped  upon  these  shores  loaded  with  chains,  and,  it  may 

*  "  We  cannot  but  admire  the  reasoning  and  hurrianity  of  those,  who,  after 
tearing  the  African  from  his  native  soil,  and  dooming  him  to  perpetual  la 
bor,  complain  that  his  understanding  shows  no  signs  of  improvement,  and 
that  his  temper  and  disposition  are  incorrigibly  perverse,  faithless,  and  trea 
cherous." — liees. 


PLEA   tfOR   AFRICA.  37 


Much  yet  to  admire  in  Africa. — Africa's  distinguished  ones. 

be,  bleeding  with  stripes ;  and  they  were  held  in  this  "  land 
of  the  free,"  in  bondage — among  a  people  of  strange  tongue 
— placed  on  a  level  with  the  most  degraded  of  the  miserable 
—tasked — and  it  is  possible,  for  it  is  often  asserted,  lashed 
to  quicken  them  in  their  heartless  toil :  but  notwithstanding 
all,  they  have  discovered  still,  under  all  these  almost  insup 
portable  causes  of  depression,  the  lineaments  of  a  noble 
spirit,  a  lofty  mind !  Although  they  came  from  a  country 
where  despotism  and  paganism  exert  all  their  influence  to 
sink  the  human  character,  these  men  have  held  the  pen  of  a 
ready  scribe,  and  spoken  with  the  tongue  of  the  eloquent — 
writing  the  Arabic,  and  the  language  of  their  respective 
tribes,  with  facility  and  elegance,  and  uttering  the  same  ap 
parently  with  the  fluency  and  ease  of  the  distinguished 
among  our  own  orators.' 

Henry  here  mentioned  that  he  had  '  lately  read  an  account 
of  one  such  African,  called  PRINCE  MORO.  I  saw  it,'  said 
he,  <  in  an  old  number  of  a  file  of  the  Episcopal,  or  Philadel 
phia  Recorder.  Annexed  were  some  remarks  of  the  late 
Rev.  Dr.  Bedell,  of  that  city,  who  also  certified  to  the  truth 
of  the  article,  he  having  known  Prince  and  often  conversed 
with  him  at  the  south.' 

Mr.  L.  recollected  the  case  of  Prince  Moro  very  well ;  and 
was  able  at  once  to  refer  to  a  number  of  the  Christian  Advo 
cate,  where  was  found  recorded,  on  the  authority  of  a  gen 
tleman  of  Fayetteville,  North  Carolina,  at  which  place  Prince 
resided,  the  following  outlines  of  his  history  : 

"  About  ,the  year  1808,  a  South  Carolina  planter  purchas 
ed  a  gang  of  slaves,  among  whom  was  a  man  of  a  slender 
frame  and  delicate  constitution,  who  was  not  able  to  labor  in 
the  field,  or  had  not  the  disposition  to  do  so.  His  health 
failing,  he  was  considered  of  no  value,  and  disregarded*  At 
length  he  strolled  off,  and  wandering  from  plantation  to 


38  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Prince  Moro. 


plantation,  reached  Fayetteville,  was  taken  up  as  a  runaway, 
and  put  in  jail,  where  he  remained  some  time.  As  no  one 
claimed  him,  and  he  appeared  of  no  value,  the  jail  was 
thrown  open  that  he  might  run  away ;  but  he  had  no  dispo 
sition  to  make  his  escape.  The  boys  amused  themselves 
with  his  good-natured,  playful  behavior,  and  fitted  up  a  tem 
porary  desk,  made  of  a  flour  barrel,  on  which  he  wrote  in  a 
masterly  hand,  writing  from  right  to  left,  in  what  was,  to 
them,  an  unknown  language.  He  was  also  noticed  by  some 
gentlemen  of  the  place ;  but  his  keeper  grew  tired  of  so  use 
less  a  charge,  and  he  was  publicly  sold  for  his  jail  dues.  His 
purchaser,  a  gentleman  living  about  thirty  miles  from  Fay 
etteville,  finding  him  rather  of  a  slender  make,  took  him  into 
his  family  as  a  house  servant.  Here  he  soon  became  a  fa 
vorite  of  the  inmates  of  the  house.  His  good  conduct  in  a 
short  time  put  him  in  possession  of  all  his  master's  stores, 
and  he  gradually  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  English  lan 
guage.  His  master  being  a  pious  man,  he  was  instructed  in 
the  principles  of  the  Christian  religion,  which  he  received 
with  great  pleasure ;  and  he  seemed  to  see  beauties  in  the 
plan  of  the  gospel,  which  had  never  appeared  to  him  in  the 
Koran  ;  for  he  had  been  reared  and  instructed  in  the  Maho- 
medam  religion,  and  it  was  found  that  the  scraps  of  writing 
from  his  pen  were  mostly  passages  from  the  Koran.  It 
would  seem  that  he  was  a  PRINCE  in  his  own  country,  which 
must  have  been  far  in  the  interior  of  Africa — perhaps  Tom- 
buctoo  or  its  neighborhood.  At  all  events,  his  intercourse 
with  the  Arabs  had  enabled  him  to  write  and  to  speak  their 
language  with  the  most  perfect  ease. 

"  Some  of  the  Africans  pretend  to  say  he  was  what  they 
call  a  'pray-God  to  the  king,'  by  which  may  be  understood, 
a  priest  or  learned  man,  who  offers  up  prayers  for  the  king 
of  his  nation,  and  is  of  his  household.  His  dignified  deport 
ment  showed  him  to  be  of  a  superior  cast — his  humility,  that 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  39 


Prince  Moro. 


of  a  peaceful  subject,  not  a  despot.  In  his  person  he  is  well 
formed,  of  a  middle  size,  small  hands  and  feet,  and  erect  in 
his  deportment.  His  complexion  and  hair,  as  well  as  the 
form  of  the  head,  are  distinctly  of  the  African  character. 
Some  years  since,  he  united  himself  to  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  Fayetteville,  of  which  he  continues  an  orderly  and 
respectable  member.  A  gentleman  who  felt  a  strong  interest 
for  the  **  good  Prince  Moro,"  as  he  is  called,  sent  to  the 
British  Bible  Society,  and  procured  for  him  an  Arabic  Bible  ; 
so  that  he  now  reads  the  Scriptures  in  his  native  language, 
and  blesses  Him  who  has  caused  good  to  come  out  of  evil, 
by  making  him  a  slave." 

*  Pa,  has  Prince  since  returned  to  his  native  land  ?' 

*  I  suspect  not,  Caroline.  His  good  master  offered  to  send 
him  to  his  native  land,  his  home,  and  his  friends  ;  but  he  said, 
**  No, — this  is  my  home,  and  here  are  my  friends,  and  here 
is  my  Bible  ;  I  enjoy  all  I  want  in  this  world.     If  I  should 
return  to  my  native  land,  the  fortune  of  war  might  transport 
me  to  a  country  where  I  should  be  deprived  of  the  greatest 
of  all  blessings,  that  of  worshipping  the  true  and  living  God, 
and  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  whom  to  worship  and  serve  is 
eternal  life."' 

*  Pa,'  said  Caroline,  with  eyes  glistening  in  moisture, '  the 
gentleman  who  bought  Prince,  and  used  him  so  kindly,  and 
instructed  him,  must  have  felt  amply  rewarded  and  greatly 
happy  to  find  this  poor  Mahomedan  become  an  humble  fol 
lower  of  the  Lord  Jesus  ?     And  it  would  seem  almost  as  if 
Cowper  had  written  expressly  to  suit  the  case  of  Prince, 
speaking  the  very  feeling  of  his  heart,  and  almost  his  very 
ivords,  in  those  lines, 

"  My  dear  deliverer  out  of  hopeless  night, 
Whose  bounty  bought  me  but  to  give  me  light ; 


40  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Prince  Abduhl  Rahahman. 


I  was  a  bondman  on  my  native  plain, 

Sin  forged,  and  ignorance  made  fast  the  chain; 

Thy  lips  have  shed  instruction  as  the  dew, 

Taught  me  what  path  to  shun,  and  what  pursue  ; 

Farewell  my  former  joys!  I  sigh  no  more 

For  Africa's  once  loved,  benighted  shore; 

Serving  a  benefactor,  I  am  free, 

At  my  best  home,  if  not  exiled  from  thee !" 

Henry  said,  *  Dr.  Bedell  stated  that  Prince  had  been  edu 
cated  at  Tombuctoo,  and  that  he  could  write  Arabic  in  a 
most  beautiful  manner.  He  composed  a  history  of  his  own 
life,  said  Dr.  B,.  which  was  sent  to  some  of  our  literary  insti 
tutions.  Prince  belonged  to  the  Foulali  tribe.'' 

'  A  more  interesting  case  still,*  said  Mr.  L.,  *  is  that  of  the 
Moorish  Prince,  ABDUHL  RAHAHMAN,  who  was  sent  out  to 
Liberia,  a  few  years  since,  by  the  American  Colonization 
Society,  but  who  died  soon  after  his  arrival  in  Africa.  He 
was  a  slave  in  this  country  nearly  forty  years,  and  then  ob 
tained  his  freedom.  He  was  born  in  the  city  of  Tombuctoo. 
in  1762.  His  uncle  was  a  king.  His  father  was  governor 
of  Footah  Jallo  for  a  time,  and  then  on  the  colony  becoming 
independent,  was  king  of  Footah  Jallo.  Prince,  after  com 
pleting  his  education,  entered  his  father's  army,  soon  rose  to 
distinction,  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  an  army,  and 
marched  against  the  Hebohs,  a  tribe  at  the  north  of  Footah 
Jallo.  He  entered  their  country  to  punish  them  for  destroy 
ing  vessels  that  came  to  the  coast,  and  for  preventing  the 
trade.  Having  put  the  Hebohs  to  flight,  and  set  their  towns 
on  fire,  he  commenced  his  retreat ;  the  Hebohs  rallied,  how 
ever,  and  by  a  circuitous  route  and  rapid  marches,  intercept 
ed  him,  and  ambushed  themselves  in  a  narrow  defile  of  a 
mountain  through  which  Prince  was  to  pass.  The  conse 
quence  was,  that  Prince  and  a  part  of  his  army  were  made 
prisoners,  and  sold  to  the  Mandingoes,  and  finally  sold  by 
them  to  a  slave  ship,  on  the  coast*  Prince  was  brought  to. 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  41 


Abduhl's  Father  and  Dr.  Cox. 


this  country,  and  sold  to  a  gentleman  residing  at  Natchez, 
Mississippi.  During  the  whole  time  of  his  bondage,  Prince 
was  never  known  to  be  intoxicated  or  guilty  of  a  falsehood, 
or  of  a  dishonest  or  mean  action.  He  submitted  to  his  fate 
without  a  murmur,  and  was  an  industrious  and  faithful  ser 
vant,  intelligent,  modest  and  obliging  to  all.  His  manners 
are  represented  as  not  only  prepossessing,  but  dignified. 
Though  born  and  raised  in  affluence,  and  now  reduced  to 
abject  servitude,  he  bore  his  trials  all  with  fortitude,  and 
carried  still 

*'  A  noble  raein." 

The  story  of  his  life,  which  is  eventful  and  interesting,  we 
have  from  his  own  mouth,  corroborated  by  a  train  of  circum 
stances  and  events  which,  in  their  order  and  developement, 
are  truly  remarkable. 

4  Dr.  Cox,  late  a  distinguished  physician  in  Natchez,  was 
in  his  early  days,  a  surgeon  on  board  a  ship  which  visited 
the  coast  of  Africa.  Dr.  Cox,  in  one  of  his  excursions  on 
shore,  got  lost  and  the  ship  sailed  and  left  him.  In  his 
wanderings,  Dr.  C.  came  to  Footah  Jallo.  The  people  saw 
him,  and  ran  and  told  the  king  of  the  "  white  man."  The 
king  ordered  Dr.  C.  to  be  brought  to  him.  Prince  accompa 
nied  the  Dr.  to  his  father's  house,  where  he  was  hospitably 
treated,  and  during  a  long  and  painful  sickness,  was  attended 
with  the  utmost  kindness  and  humanity.  After  his  recovery 
from  sickness,  Dr.  C.  was  conveyed  by  his  hospitable  host 
and  attendants,  to  the  sea-shore,  where  he  found  a  ship  and 
returned  to  this  country.  Prince  had  been  sixteen  years  a 
slave  in  this  country  when  Dr.  Cox  removed  to  Natchez, 
and  he  and  Prince  met  and  recognized  each  other  in  the 
streets  of  that  city. 

1  Prince's  account  of  Dr.  Cox's  residence  in  his  father's 
family,  and  of  his  interview  with  Dr.   Cox  on  their  first 
c2 


42  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Prince  and  Dr.  Cox. — Dr.  Cox  endeavors  to  free  Prince. 

meeting  in  Natchez,  is  deeply  affecting.  Prince  says,  that 
when  Dr.  Cox  was  brought  to  his  father,  "  he  was  asked 
where  he  was  going?  The  Dr.  said  he  did  not  know  where 
to  go — he  was  lost — the  ship  had  left  him — and  he  had  a 
bad  sore  leg,  which  he  had  wounded  in  travelling.  My 
father  told  him  he  had  better  go  no  further,  but  stay  with  him, 
and  he  would  get  a  woman  to  cure  his  leg.  It  was  soon 
cured.  My  father  told  him  to  stay  as  long  as  he  chose. 
He  remained  six  months.  One  day  my  father  asked  him  if 
he  wished  to  go  to  his  own  country.  He  said  yes.  My 
father  said,  what  makes  you  desire  to  go  back,  you  are  treat 
ed  well  here  ?  He  answered,  that  his  father  and  mother 
would  be  anxious  when  the  vessel  returned  without  him, 
thinking  he  might  be  dead.  My  father  told  him,  «  whenever 
you  wish  to  go,  I  will  send  a  guard  to  accompany  you  to  the 
ship.'  Then  fifteen  men  were  sent  with  him  by  my  father 
for  a  guard,  and  he  gave  the  Dr.  gold  to  pay  his  passage 
home.  My  father  told  the  guard  that  if  a  vessel  was  there, 
they  must  leave  the  Dr.  but  must  not  go  on  board  the  ship  ; 
and  if  there  was  no  vessel,  they  must  bring  the  Dr.  back. 
They  waited  some  time,  and  then  found  the  same  vessel  in 
which  he  came,  and  he  went  on  board." 

'  Prince  continues,  "  After  that,  I  was  taken  prisoner,  and 
sent  to  Natchez.  When  I  had  been  there  sixteen  years, 
Dr.  Cox  removed  to  Natchez,  and  one  day  I  met  him  in  the 
street.  I  said  to  a  man  who  came  with  me  from  Africa, 
4  Sambo,  that  man  rideslike  a  white  man  I  saw  in  my  country. 
See,  when  he  rides  by ;  if  he  open  but  one  eye,  that  is  the 
same  man.'  When  he  came  up,  hating  to  stop  him  without 
reason,  I  said,  *  Master,  do  you  want  to  buy  some  potatoes?' 
While  he  looked  at  the  potatoes  I  knew  him,  but  he  did  not 
know  me.  He  said,  *  Boy,  where  did  you  come  from?'  I 
said  «  from  Col.  F's.'  He  said  *  Col.  F.  did  not  raise  you?' 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  43 

Prince's  account  of  his  capture. 

Then  he  said,  'you  came  from  Teembo?'  I  answered,  'yes.' 
He  said,  '  your  name  is  Abduhl  Rahahman?'  Then  spring 
ing  from  his  horse  he  embraced  me,  and  inquired  how  I 
came  to  this  country.  Then  he  said,  '  dash  down  your 
potatoes  and  come  to  my  house.'  He  rode  quick,  and  called 
a  negro  woman  to  take  the  potatoes  from  my  head.  Then 
he  sent  for  Gov.  W.  to  come  and  see  me.  When  Gov.  W. 
came,  Dr.  Cox  said,  'I  have  been  to  this  man's  father's 
house,  and  they  treated  me  as  kindly  as  my  own  parents.* 
The  next  morning  he  tried  to  purchase  me,  but  my  master 
was  unwilling  to  sell  me.  He  offered  large  sums  for  me, 
but  they  were  refused.  Then  he  said  to  master,  « If  you 
will  not  part  with  him,  u«e  him  well.'  After  that,  Dr.  Cox 
died,  and  his  son  offered  a  great  price  for  me.*' 

'  Prince's  own  account  of  his  capture  is  also  interesting. 
When  returning  from  the  country  of  the  Hebohs,  it  seems, 
he  was  unapprehensive  of  any  enemy  being  near,  and  he 
says,  "We  dismounted  and  led  our  horses  until  we  were 
half  way  up  the  mountain.  Then  they  fired  upon  us.  We 
saw  the  smoke,  we  heard  the  guns,  and  saw  the  people  drop 
down.  I  told  every  one  to  run  until  we  reached  the  top  of 
the  hill,  then  to  wait  for  each  other  until  all  came  there  and 
we  would  fight  them.  They  followed  us,  and  we  ran  and 
fought.  I  saw  that  this  would  not  do.  I  told  every  one  to  run 
who  wished  to  do  so.  I  said,  '  I  will  not  run  for  an  African? 
I  got  down  from  my  horse,  and  set  down.  One  came  be 
hind  and  shot  me  in  the  shoulder.  One  came  before  and 
pointed  his  gun  to  shoot  me,  but  seeing  my  clothes  orna 
mented  with  gold,  he  cried  out,  'That  the  King.'  When 
they  came  to  me,  I  had  a  sword  under  me,  but  they  did  not 
see  it.  The  first  one  that  came,  I  sprang  forward  and  killed. 
They  knocked  me  down  with  a  gun  and  I  fainted.  They 
carried  me  to  a  pond  of  water  and  dipped  me  in.  After  I 


44  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Remains  of  Africa's  former  glory. 


came  to  myself,  they  bound  me,  and  then  pulled  off  my 
shoes  and  made  me  go  on  barefoot  one  hundred  miles,  and 
led  my  horse  before  me.  As  soon  as  my  people  got  home, 
my  father  raised  a  troop,  and  came  after  me  ;  and  as  soon  as 
the  Hebohs  knew  that  he  was  coming,  they  carried  me  into 
the  wilderness.  My  father  came  and  burnt  their  country. 
They  carried  me  to  the  Mandingo  country,  on  the  Gambia, 
and  sold  me,  with  fifty  others,  to  an  English  ship.  They 
took  me  to  the  Island  of  Dominica ;  after  that  I  was  taken  to 
New  Orleans,  then  to  Natchez." 

'  Prince  was  educated  a  Mohamedan,  but  was  friendly 
disposed  to  the  Christian  religion,  admiring  the  precepts  of 
the  Bible,  but  asserting  that  Christians  do  not  follow  them! 

'After  the  liberation  of  Prince,  whilst  preparing  for  his 
return  to  Africa,  he  visited  Hartford,  Connecticut,  and  there 
found  an  aged  African  who  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  army 
of  his  father !  He,  whose  present  name  was  Sterling,  cor 
roborated  many  particulars  which  I  have  now  related  con 
cerning  Prince,' 


CONVERSATION    V. 

"  Breathes  there  the  man,  with  soul  so  dead 
Who  never  to  himself  hath  said, 

This  is  my  own,  my  native  land  ! 
Whose  heart  hath  ne'er  within  him  burned, 
As  home  his  footsteps  he  hath  turned  ?" — Scott. 

1  WELL,  Henry,  where  is  Caroline? — 0,  here  she  comes. 
Well,  Caroline,  you  are  not  wearied,  I  hope,  with  the  sub 
ject  of  Africa?' 

*  Pa,  indeed  I  am  not.     I  am  always  glad  to  see  the  hour 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  45 

Africa  destined  to  rise.— Travellers  in  Africa. 

return  when  we  may  resume  the  subject.  The  case  of 
Prince  Abduhl  Rahahman,  which  you  mentioned  to  us  last 
evening,  was  truly  interesting.  It  seems  greatly  desirable 
that  he  should  have  lived  a  few  years  after  his  return  to  his 
native  land  ;  although,  at  his  time  of  life,  it  was  hardly  to  be 
expected  by  him  or  his  friends  that  he  could  live  long  in 
any  part  of  the  world.' 

'  Yes  :  it  appeared  greatly  desirable  that  he  should  live. 
The  ways  of  Providence,  however,  although  mysterious, 
are  wise.  It  is  said  that  Prince,  on  his  return  to  Africa,  re 
turned  also  to  the  Mahomedan  faith.  If  so,  he  might  not 
have  essentially  aided  the  progress  of  the  christianization  of 
Africa,  had  his  life  been  spared.' 

*  It  seems  to  me,  Pa,  that  the  continent  of  Africa  presents 
to  the  mind  a  singular  combination  of  character,  taking  into 
view  her  whole  history — that  is,  the  little  that  we  know  of 
it?' 

*  It  certainly  floes  :  she  has  been  the  very  focus  of  litera 
ture  and  refinement,  and  also  has  afforded  the  very  worst 
specimens  of  barbarism.     We  see  there  the  greatest  ignor 
ance  and  debasement,  and  yet  even  now  find  evidence  also 
of  something  like  attention  to  learning,  and  hear  from  travel 
lers  of  an  interior  where  are  magnificent  cities,  and  the  splen 
dors  of  wealth  and  power.     The  history  of  Africa's  better 
days,  and  the  present  remains  of  her  former  glory,  encour 
age  the  hope  that  she  may  again  recover  her  elevation,  not 
withstanding  all  that  seems  most  discouraging.     It  has  been 
said  that  to  the  burning  history  of  Ancient  Greece,  more 
than  to  any  other  cause,  Modern  Greece  is  indebted  for  any 
spirit  of  liberty  and  improvement  with  which  she  may,  of 
late  years,  have  appeared  inspired.     Africa  may  yet  find 
motive  to  action,  in  the  thought  of  what  she  has  been,  whilst 


46  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 

Truth  and  fiction  united  in  travels. 

her  past  history  may  be  the  means  of  enlisting  the  sympa 
thies  of  the  world  in  her  behalf.  There  is  enough,  certainly, 
in  her  history,  to  throw  suspicion  on  the  frequent  charge  of 
natural  inferiority  of  her  children.* 

*  Many  instances  may  be  cited  of  genius  and  elevated  character  among 
the  African  race,  sufficient  at  least  to  redeem  them  from  the  unkind  imputa 
tions  by  which  their  perpetual  servitude  is  sometimes  justified.  To  name 
but  a  few  :  J.  E.  J.  CAPITEIN,  born  in  Africa,  and  bought  by  a  slave-holder, 
on  the  river  St.  Andre,  was  carried  to  Holland,  where  he  acquired  a  know 
ledge  of  Latin,  Greek,  Hebrew,  and  Chaldaic.  He  studied  Theology  at  the 
University  of  Leyden,  took  his  degree,  was  ordained  at  Amsterdam,  and 
went  out  as  a  missionary  to  Guinea  in  1742.  He  was  the  author  of  several 
published  sermons,  poems,  and  dissertations.  His  "  Dissertatio  de  Servitute 
Libertati  Christianae  non  contraria"  went  through  four  editions.  IGNATIUS 
SANCHO,  and  GUSTAVUS  VASA,  the  former  born  on  board  a  slave-ship  on  its 
passage  from  Guinea  to  the  West  Indies,  and  the  latter  in  the  kingdom  of 
Benin,  distinguished  themselves  by  their  literature.  Sancho  died  in  England 
in  1780.  Letters  of  his  were  published  in  2  vols.  octavo,  and  were  well  re 
ceived  by  the  public.  Vasa  obtained  his  freedom  when  about  33  years  of 
age,  published  in  London  his  memoirs,  also  a  poem,  which  were  read  with 
great  interest,  and  the  former  several  times  reprinted.  In  1789,  he  presented 
to  Parliament  a  petition  for  the  suppression  of  the  slave-trade.  The  SON  of 
Vasa  was  assistant  librarian  to  Sir  Joseph  Banks,  and  Secretary  to  the  Com 
mittee  for  vaccination.  He  is  represented  as  versed  in  bibliography.  A.  W. 
AMO,  born  in  Guinea,  was  brought  to  this  country  when  young,  took  the 
degree  of  Doctor  in  Philosophy  at  the  University  of  Wittemberg,  in  1734. 
He  was  skilled  in  Latin  and  Greek;  delivered  lectures  on  philosophy;  in 
1744 ;  supported  a  thesis  at  Wittemberg,  and  published  a  dissertation  "  on  the 
absence  of  sensation  in  the  soul,  and  its  presence  in  the  human  body;"  was 
appointed  Professor,  and  the  same  year  supported  a  thesis  "  on  the  distinction 
which  ought  to  be  made  between  the  operations  of  mind  and  those  of  sense." 
He  also  distinguished  himself  in  Mathematics.  In  an  account  of  his  life, 
published  by  the  academic  council,  his  integrity,  talents,  industry,  and 
erudition,  are  very  highly  commended.  FRANCIS  WILLIAMS,  a  negro, 
born  in  Jamaica,  was  educated  in  the  University  of  Cambridge  in  England  ; 
he  opened  a  school  in  Jamaica  for  instruction  in  Latin  and  Mathematics,  and 
wrote  many  pieces  in  Latin  verse  which  discovered  talents  of  good  order. 
JOB  BEN  SOLOMON,  son  of  the  king  of  Bunda,  on  the  Gambia,  was  taken  in 
1730,  and  sold  in  Maryland.  "  He  afterwards  found  his  way  to  England, 
where  his  talents,  dignified  air,  and  amenity  of  character  procured  him 
friends,  and  among  the  rest  Sir  Hans  Sloane,  for  whom  he  translated  several 
Arabic  manuscripts.  After  being  received  with  distinction  at  the  court  of 
St.  James,  he  was  sent  back  to  Africa."  His  letters  which  he  afterwards 
wrote  to  his  friends  in  England  and  America  were  published  and  read  with 
interest.  He  is  said  to  have  been  able  to  repeat  the  Koran  from  memory. 
THOMAS  FULLER,  a  native  African,  resident  for  some  time  near  Alexandria, 
District  of  Columbia,  although  unable  to  read  or  write,  was  an  extraordinary 
example  of  quickness  in  reckoning.  Being  asked  in  company,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  trying  his  powers,  how  many  seconds  a  person  had  lived  who  was  70 
years,  seven  months,  and  seven  days  old,  he  answered  correctly  in  a  minute 
and  a  half.  On  reckoning  it  up  after  him,  a  different  result  was  obtained  by 
the  company.  "  Have  you  not  forgotten  the  leap  years  ?"  said  the  negro. 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  47 

Africans  not  naturally  indolent. 

'  Douglass,  in  his  work  on  missions,  says,  "  There  are 
three  agents  which  will  soon  be  entwined  with  the  issues  of 
all  human  affairs,  and  are  the  very  hinges  on  which  the  moral 
world  will  speedily  turn.  The  three  things  in  which  the 
present  age  excels  the  ancients,  are  the  Inductive  Philoso 
phy,  Printing,  and  Universal  Education."  When  these 
powers  come  to  bear  upon  Africa,  as  soon  they  will  with 
energy,  we  shall  see — at  least,  the  living  will  see  in  Africa 
a  new  world.' 

'  I  wonder,  Pa,  what  degree  of  credit  we  are  to  give  to  the 
accounts  of  travellers  in  Africa.  If  they  have  not  indulged 

These  they  had  forgotten ;  the  omission  being  supplied,  the  answer  of  the 
negro  was  found  to  be  right.  This  account  was  given  by  Dr.  Rush,  when 
Fuller  was  70  years  old.  JAMES  DERHAM  was  once  "  a  slave  in  Philadelphia. 
In  1788,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  he  became  the  most  distinguished  physi 
cian  in  New  Orleans.  '  I  conversed  with  him  on  medicine,'  says  Dr.  Rush, 
'and  found  him  very  learned  ;  I  thought  I  could  give  him  information  con 
cerning  the  treatment  of  diseases,  but  I  learned  more  from  him  than  he  could 
expect  from  me.'  "  Boerhaave  and  De  Haen  have  given  strong  testimony  to 
the  medical  skill  of  not  a  few  blacks.  Several  are  mentioned  as  having 
been  very  dexterous  surgeons.  "  JOSEPH  RACHEL,  a  free  negro  of  Barba- 
does,  was  another  Howard.  Having  become  rich  by  commerce,  he  devoted 
all  his  property  to  charitable  uses,  and  spent  much  of  his  time  in  visiting 
prisons  to  relieve  and  reclaim  the  wretched  tenants.  He  died  in  1758." 
**  JASMIN  THOUMAZEAN  was  born  in  Africa.  Having  obtained  his  freedom  in 
St.  Domingo,  in  1756;  he  established  a  hospital  at  the  Cape  for  poor  negroes 
and  mulattoes,  and  during  more  than  forty  years,  assisted  by  his  wife,  devot 
ed  his  time  and  fortune  to  their  comfort."  "  HANNIBAL,  an  African  negro, 
rose  to  the  rank  of  Lt..  General  and  Director  of  artillery  under  Peter  the  Great 
of  Russia.  His  son  was  also  a  Lt.  General  in  the  Russian  corps  of  artillery." 
BENJAMIN  BANNAKER,  a  negro  of  Maryland,  applied  himself  to  Astronomy 
with  so  much  success,  that  he  published  almanacs  in  Philadelphia  for  the 
years  1794  and  1795."  Blumenbach,  from  whom  the  preceding  instances 
are  chiefly  taken,  possessed  a  library  composed  entirely  of  works  written  by 
negroes.  He  says,  "There  is  not  a  single  department  of  taste  or  science  in 
which  these  people  have  not  been  distinguished."  Dr.  Blumenbach  is  the 
author  of  the  most  able  and  scientific  treatise  on  the  varieties  of  the  human 
species,  and  was  better  qualified  than  any  other  person  to  decide  upon  their 
constitutional  differences.  jProf.  B.  "  sarcastically  observes,  that  entire  and 
large  provinces  of  Europe  might  be  named,  in  which  it  would  be  difficult  to 
meet  with  such  good  writers,  poets,  philosophers,  and  correspondents  of  the 
French  academy ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  that  there  is  no  savage  people, 
which  have  distinguished  themselves  by  such  examples  of  perfectibility  and 
even  capacity  for  scientific  cultivation;  and  consequently  that  none  can  ap 
proach  more  nearly  to  the  polished  nations  of  the  globe,  than  the  negro." — 
See  Blumenbach's  Beytruge  zur  Naturgeschichte — Rees'  Encydo. — and  Grif- 
fii'g  flea. 


48  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Causes  of  indolence,  and  incentives  to  vice. 


the  imagination  very  freely,  we  all  have  a  great  deal  to  learn 
yet  respecting  Africa's  present  state  ?' 

*  I  suspect  my  daughter  has  been  reading  a  little  more  re 
specting  this  people  of  "  obtuse  intellect"  since  we  turned 
our  thoughts  in  these  conversations  to  the  subject?' 

1 1  have.  I  have  been  looking  over  such  works  as  I  can 
find.  Denham  and  Clapperton's  Expedition  I  think  is  very 
interesting.  I  have  also  been  looking  into  Bruce's  Travels, 
and  Riley  and  Adams.' 

*  In  answer  to  your  question — all  recent  discoveries  seem 
to  vindicate  the  veracity  of  Bruce,  although,  while  he  lived, 
it  was  his  fate  to  be  doubted,  contradicted,  and  even  ridiculed 
for  a  narrative  which  is  now  thought  to  be  true.     Riley  and 
Adams  are  doubtless  entitled  to  some  credit ;  but  may  not, 
in  all  respects,  be  considered  so  good  authority  as  Denham 
and  Clapperton.     The  travels  of  Barrow,  La  Vaillant,  and 
Mungo  Park,  you  will  also  find  full  of  interest.     Africa  has 
been  the  scene  of  much  fiction  in  times  past ;  the  unexplored 
region  of  all  that  is  wonderful.    The  color  of  her  inhabitants 
—her  vast  and  impenetrable  deserts — and  the  fate  of  those 
who  attempted  to  explore  her  interior,  have  served  at  the 
same  time  to  inflame  the  curiosity  and  quicken  the  imagina 
tion.     Hence,  vague  reports  of  paradisaical  beauty  and  won 
derful  fertility ;  oases,  in  oceans  of  sand,  the  inaccessible 
abodes  of  the  blest ;  and  rumors  of  supernatural  wonders 
seen  by  travellers  more  fortunate  than  others ;  all  which  are 
to  be  regarded  as  mere  fiction.     The  accounts  of  later  travel 
lers  have  drawn  upon  the  imagination  less,  and  are  to  be 
considered  as  authentic.    We  have,  without  doubt,  very  im 
perfect  ideas  as  yet,  of  the  amount  of  Africa's  population, 
her  resources,  or  her  comparative  mental  energy.     That 
whole  continent  will  yet,  and  that  soon,  if  I  mistake  not,  be- 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  49 


Africans  not  naturally  indolent. 


come  the  fruitful  source  of  amazing  interest,  and  the  scene  of 
wonderful  developments.' 

'  From  all  that  can  be  gathered  from  the  reports  of  tra 
vellers  and  from  our  own  observation,  do  you  not  think,  Sir, 
that  we  are  justified  in  the  inference  that  the  Africans  are 
naturally  an  extremely  indolent  race  ?* 

'  This  accusation  has  been  preferred  against  them,  and 
probably  with  greater  truth  than  usually  pertains  to  asser 
tions  of  those  who  would  deprive  the  race  of  every  good 
quality,  mental  or  social ;  but  even  this  charge  is,  I  suspect, 
somewhat  exaggerated.  All  people,  of  every  nation  and 
color,  are  indolent,  except  as  stimulated  to  labor,  activity 
and  enterprise,  by  the  spirit  of  property,  utility,  or  pleasure  : 
"The  best  of  men  have  ever  lov'd  repose." 

'  The  negroes  of  Senegal  are  remarkably  industrious* 
Since  the  suppression  of  slavery  there,  their  villages  are 
rebuilt,  and  repeopled,  and  there  is  the  show  of  a  com 
mendable  spirit  of  enterprise.  Unmolested  in  their  posses 
sions  and  enjoyments,  they  have  motive  to  industry.  The 
Abbe  Gregoire  says  of  the  inhabitants  of  Axiaim,  on  the 
Gold  Coast,  and  also  of  those  of  the  country  of  Boulam, 
that  "  they  are  industrious."  "  Those  of  the  country  of 
Jago,"  he  adds,  are  "  celebrated  for  an  activity  which  en 
riches  their  country.  Those  of  Cabomonte  and  of  Fido  are 
indefatigable  cultivators  ;  economical  of  their  soil,  they 
scarcely  leave  a  foot-path  to  form  a  communication  between 
the  different  possessions.  They  reap  one  day,  and  the  next 
day  sow  the  earth." 

4  In  many  parts  of  Africa  there  is  such  luxuriant  abund 
ance  of  all  that  is  necessary  to  the  sustenance  and  comfort 
of  its  inhabitants,  that  indolence  follows  as  a  matter  of  course. 
Besides,  they  are  often  exposed  to  continual  inroads  from 
their  enemies ;  and  where  nothing  is  certain,  save  their  con- 


50  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Causes  of  indolence,  and  incentives  to  vice. 


stant  liability  to  surprise,  capture,  or  death,  it  may  naturally 
be  expected  that  the  people  will  be  indolent,  for  there  is  no 
incentive  to  effort.  Many  of  those  we  see  in  our  own  coun 
try,  whether  natives  of  Africa,  or  descendants  of  Africans, 
have  acquired  indolent  habits  through  the  force  of  circum 
stances  ;  but  nothing,  surely,  is  to  be  inferred  from  this  fact 
to  the  disparagement  of  Africans  more  favorably  situated  : 

"  Quis  enim  virtutem  amplectitur  ipsam 
fremia  si  tollas?" 

'  It  has  sometimes  been  supposed  that  this  portion  of  the 
human  race  are  also  more  inclined  to  vicious  habits  gene 
rally  and  unruly  passions  than  others.  If  this  were  true,  it 
might  grow  out  of  the  circumstances  in  which  they  are 
placed.  Ignorance  and  crime  are  nearly  allied.  And  were 
there  no  other  cause,  habits  of  indolence  would  beget  other 
evils.  The  poet  has  shown  some  knowledge  of  human  na 
ture  and  also  of  sound  philosophy,  who  said, 

**  O  mortal  man,  who  livest  here  by  toil, 

Do  not  complain  of  this  thy  hard  estate  : 

That,  like  an  emmet,  thou  must  ever  moil, 

Is  a  sad  sentence  of  an  ancient  date ; 

And,  certes,  there  is  for  it  reason  great  ; 

For,  though  sometimes  it  makes  thee  weep  and  wail, 

And  curse  thy  star,  and  early  drudge  and  late ; 

Withouten  that  would  come  an  heavier  bale, 

Loose  life,  unruly  passions,  and  diseases  pale."  ' 

4  The  Africans  are  not  only  generally  considered  consti 
tutionally  indolent,  but  cowardly,  are  they  not,  Pa  ?' 

*  The  Portuguese  historian,  Borros,  says  that  negroes 
are,  in  his  opinion,  preferable  to  Swiss  soldiers,  whose  re 
putation  for  bravery  has  generally  stood  high.  In  1703,  the 
blacks  took  arms  for  the  defence  of  Guadaloupe,  and  "  were 
more  useful  than  all  the  rest  of  the  French  troops."  At  the 
same  time,  they  bravely  defended  Martinico  against  the 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  51 


African  bravery. — Henry  Diaz. 


English.  The  honorable  conduct  of  the  negroes  at  the 
siege  of  Savannah,  and  at  the  taking  of  Pensacola,  is  well 
known.  During  the  Revolution,  when  incorporated  with 
the  French  troops,  they  shared  their  danger  and  their  glory. 

*  You  probably  recollect  the  mention  of  Henry  Diaz,  who 
is  extolled  in  all  the  histories  of  Brazil :  he  was  a  negro, 
and  once  a  slave.     He  became  colonel  of  a  regiment  of  sol 
diers  of  his  own  color.     He  was  talented,  sagacious,  and 
brave.     In  battle,  struggling  against  vast  superiority  of  num 
bers,  and  perceiving  that  some  of  his  soldiers  were  discour 
aged  and  began  to  give  way,  he  thrust  himself  into  their 
midst,  and  crying  out,  "  Are  these  the  brave  companions  of 
Henry  Diaz?"  his  speech  and  example  inspired  them  anew 
with  courage,  and  the  enemy,  who  supposed  themselves  vic 
torious,  were  attacked  with  an  impetuosity  which  forced 
them  to  retreat  and  finally  to  capitulate.     "  In  1745,  in  the 
midst  of  his  exploits,  this  brave  man  had  his  left  hand 
wounded  by  a  ball ;  and  in  order  to  spare  the  delay  of  dress 
ing,  he  caused  it  to  be  amputated,  saying  that  each  finger  of 
his  right  hand  was  worth  a  left  hand  in  combat."  ! 

'  I  suppose,  Sir,  that  in  other  moral  qualities,  they  may 
not  be  inferior,  naturally,  to  other  people  ;  but  we  have  been 
so  much  accustomed  to  think  disparagingly  of  Africans,  that 
the  force  of  habit  is  still  strong  notwithstanding  any  light 
which  is  shed  upon  the  understanding.  I  think,  however, 
that  I  am  fast  rising  above  prejudice.' 

*  Africans  are  capable,  I  doubt  not,  of  every  noble  trait  of 
character ;  and  those  qualities  which  are  the  greatest  orna 
ment  to  humanity,  are  often  exhibited  by  them  to  our  admi 
ration.     You  recollect  the  anecdote  which  Mr.  Newton  tells 
of  a  negro  whom  he,  one  day,  accused  of  imposture  and  in 
justice  ?     The  negro,  with   wounded  pride,  replied,  "  Do> 
you  take  me  for  a  white  man  ?"     Proyart,  in  his  history  of 


52  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


Moral  traits. 


Loango,  asserts  that  if  the  negroes  who  inhabit  the  coasts, 
and  associate  with  white  men,  are  inclined  to  fraud  and  other 
vices,  those  who  have  not  had  intercourse  with  the  whites* 
are  humane,  obliging,  and  hospitable.  Wadstrom,  who 
boasts  of  their  friendship,  thinks  their  sensibility  more  mild 
and  affecting  than  that  of  the  whites.  Captain  Wilson,  who 
lived  among  them,  speaks  highly  of  their  constancy  and 
friendship ;  they  shed  tears  at  his  departure.  Goldberry  in 
veighs  against  the  presumption  with  which  Europeans  de 
spise  and  calumniate  nations,  improperly  called  savage, 
among  whom  we  find  men  of  probity,  models  of  filial,  con 
jugal  and  paternal  affection,  who  know  all  the  energies  and 
refinements  of  virtue  ;  among  whom  sentimental  impressions 
are  more  deep,  because  they  observe,  more  than  we,  the 
dictates  of  nature,  and  know  how  to  sacrifice  personal  in 
terests  to  the  ties  of  friendship.  Robin  speaks  of  a  slave  of 
Martinico,  who,  having  gained  money  sufficient  to  purchase 
his  own  freedom,  purchased  with  it  his  mother's.  Mungo 
Park  says,  the  most  horrible  outrage  that  can  be  committed 
against  a  negro,  is  to  curse  his  father  or  his  mother,  or  to 
speak  of  either  with  contempt.  "  Strike  me,"  said  a  slave 
to  his  master,  "  but  curse  not  my  mother !"  Park  speaks 
of  a  negress  having  lost  her  son,  and  finding  consolation  in 
the  fact  that  he  had  never  told  a  lie,  Cassaux  relates,  that  a 
negro,  seeing  a  white  man  abuse  his  father,  said,  "  Carry 
away  the  child  of  this  monster,  that  it  may  not  learn  to  imi 
tate  his  conduct."  Stedman  says,  "  Several  Maroons"  had 
been  condemned  to  the  gallows :  one  had  the  offer  of  his 
life,  on  condition  of  his  becoming  the  executioner  of  his 
fellows  ;  but  he  refused.  The  master  ordered  one  of  his 
negroes  to  perform  the  office.  "  Wait,"  said  he,  "  until  I 
get  ready."  He  then  went  into  the  house,  took  a  hatchet, 
and  cut  off  his  hand  ;  when,  returning,  he  said  to  his 
master,  "  Order  me  to  be  the  executioner  of  my  comrade  !" 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA.  53 


Louis  Desrouleaux. 


Captain  Sudbury,  of  the  English  navy,  lately  received  a 
consignment  of  gold  dust,  valued  at  <£13,000,  fever  $60,000,) 
from  the  slave  coast  of  Africa,  as  a  present  from  one  of  the 
native  princes,  whom  he  had  freed  from  slavery  among  a 
whole  cargo  of  slaves  which  he  had  captured. 

*  There  is  an  interesting  anecdote  of  Louis  Desrouleaux, 
which  I  will  here  repeat.  Desrouleaux  was  once  a  slave. 
His  master,  who  was  possessed  of  great  riches,  had  been 
engaged  in  the  slave  trade.  He  became  poor  and  returned 
from  France  to  St.  Domingo,  where  his  slave,  Desrouleaux, 
had  become  free,  and  had  himself  acquired  a  fortune.  Pin- 
sum,  the  master,  was  scarcely  recognized  now,  by  those 
who  professed  for  him  great  friendship  when  he  was  rich. 
Desrouleaux  heard  of  his  old  master's  misfortunes,  hastened 
to  find  him,  supplied  him  with  honorable  lodging  and  board,, 
and  then  proposed  to  him  that  he  would  be  most  happy 
living  in  France  where  his  feelings  would  not  be  mortified 
by  the  sight  of  ungrateful  men.  On  Pinsum  replying,  *  I 
cannot  find  subsistence  in  France,'  Desrouleaux  asked,  if  an 
annual  income  of  fifteen  thousand  francs  would  suffice? — 
The  Frenchman  wept  with  joy — the  negro  signed  the  con 
tract,  and  the  pension  was  regularly  paid.* 

4  Before  we  close  this  conversation,  I  must  just  refer  to 

*"  The  travels  of  Barrow,  Le  Vaillant,  and  Park,  abound  with  anecdotes 
honorable  to  the  moral  character  of  the  Africans,  and  proving  that  they 
betray  no  deficiency  in  the  amiable  qualities  of  the  heart.  One  of  these 
gives  us  an  interesting  portrait  of  the  chief  of  a  tribe:  'His  countenance 
was  strongly  marked  with  the  habit  of  reflection.  Vigorous  in  his  mental, 
and  amiable  in  the  personal  qualities,  Gaika  was  at  once  the  friend  and 
ruler  of  a  happy  people,  who  universally  pronounced  his  name  with  trans 
port,  and  blessed  his  abode  as  the  seat  of  felicity/  Many  highly  polished 
European  kings  would  appear  to  little  advantage  by  the  side  of  this  savage- 
We  see  no  reason  to  doubt  that  the  negroes,  taken  altogether,  are  not  inferi 
or  to  any  variety  of  the  human  race  in  natural  goodness  of  heart.  It  is  con 
sonant  to  our  experience  of  mankind  in  £eneral,  that  the  latter  quality 
should  be  deadened,  or  completely  extinguished  in  the  slave-ship  or  the- 
plantation." — kees'  Encydo* 

It  is  doubtful  whether  any  other  people  would  exhibit,  in  the  sarae  eis- 
eurastances,  greater  native  goodness  of  heart  than  the  negro. 


54  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


The  Solima  camp. 


one  specimen  of  the  interior  of  Africa,  their  splendor,  arts, 
industry,  genius,  regard  for  bravery,  &c.  which  has  been 
furnished  by  Lieut.  Laing,  of  the  Br.  Navy,  who,  under 
instructions  from  the  Governor  of  Sierra  Leone,  went  on  a 
mission  far  in  tbe  interior.  It  relates  to  his  visit  to  the  Chief 
of  the  Solimas,  King  Yaradee. 

*  After  visiting  different  chiefs  by  whom  he  was  well  re 
ceived,  Lieut.  Laing  came  to  a  place  called  Koukundi,  a  vil 
lage  of  farms  belonging  to  the  people  of  Melicouri.  Here 
he  remained  during  the  night,  and  early  in  the  morning  en 
tered  the  town  itself,  which  was  walled  round,  with  port  holes 
for  musketry,  and  was  impregnable.  The  country  in  the 
neighborhood  was  abundantly  productive,  and  in  a  high 
state  of  cultivation ;  corn,  barley,  rice,  cassada,  and  cotton 
growing  in  great  profusion.  Lt.  L.  says  he  passed  several 
hundred  acres  of  such  cultivation.  The  next  day  he  pro 
ceeded  to  the  camp,  about  eight  miles  distant  north,  and 
which  was  about  three  hours  south  of  Fouricaria.  Immedi 
ately  on  his  approach,  the  drums  and  other  warlike  instru 
ments  were  in  motion,  and  soon  about  12,000  people  were 
assembled  in  a  large  square,  in  the  centre  of  the  savannah  on 
which  an  immense  army  was  encamped,  and  Lt.  L.  com 
municated  the  object  of  his  visit,  which  was  to  explain  the 
footing  on  which  the  Colony  of  Sierra  Leone  wished  to 
stand  with  the  neighboring  nations.  King  Yaradee,  who 
is  one  of  the  most  warlike  of  the  African  monarchs,  he  found 
surrounded  by  his  brave  chiefs,  under  an  ample  tent,  seated 
upon  the  skin  of  a  lion.  The  king  kindly  invited  Lt.  L.  to 
take  a  seat  by  his  side.  The  following  song  impromptu,  in 
their  own  language,  was  then  sung  by  a  minstrel : 

"  A  stranger  has  come  to  Yaradee's  camp 

Whose  bosom  is  soft  and  is  fair  ; 
He  sits  by  the  valiant  Yaradee's  side, 

And  none  but  the  valiant  sit  there. 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  55 

Solima  Song. 

Like  the  furious  lion  Yaradee  comes 

And  hurls  the  terrors  of  war; 
His  enemies  see  him,  and,  panic-struck,  flee 

To  the  woods  and  the  deserts  afar. 

By  the  side  of  this  hero,  so  valiant  and  brave, 

Sits  the  stranger  whose  skin  is  so  fair ; 
He  lives  on  the  sea,  where  he  wanders  at  will, 

And  he  knows  neither  sorrow  nor  care. 

Then  look  at  the  stranger  before  he  departs ; 

Brave  Yaradee,  touch  his  soft  hair ; 
The  laU  note  of  my  harp  swells  to  Yaradee's  praise, 

While  I  gaze  on  the  stranger  so  fair." 

«  The  Solimas  are  great  singers.  The  great  deeds  of  the 
Solima  chiefs,  as  well  as  the  history  of  their  wars,  are  hand 
ed  down  to  posterity  by  means  of  Jelle  or  singing-men,  in 
songs  composed  much  after  the  manner  of  Ossian.' 

«  Those  lines  are  very  sweet,'  said  H.,  *  and  the  scene  must 
have  been  very  imposing.' 

*  The  Africans  are  sweet  singers,'  said  C.;  'but  I  ac 
knowledge  the  time  has  been  when  I  thought  them  capable 
of  sound  only — not  of  sentiment.' 


56  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 

Scripture  testimony  to  African  learning. 


CONVERSATION    VI. 

"From  Guinea's  coast  pursue  the  lessening  sail, 

And  catch  the  sounds  that  sadden  every  gale. 

Tell,  if  though  canst,  the  sum  of  sorrows  there ; 

Mark  the  fix'd  gaze,  the  wild  and.phrenzied  glare, 

The  racks  of  thought,  and  freezings  of  despair ! 

But  pause  not  there — beyond  the  western  wave, 

Go  see  the  captive  bartered  as  a  slave! 

Crush'd  till  his  high,  heroic  spirit  bleeds, 

And  from  his  nervebss  frame  indignantly  recedes." — Rogers. 

'  I  HAVE  been  thinking,  Pa,'  said  Caroline,  '  that  it  is  a 
fact  somewhat  remarkable,  that  perhaps  the  first  intimation 
which  we  find  in  ancient  history  of  great  learning  among  any 
people,  is  that  which  in  Mosaic  history  points  us  to  Africa. 
Moses,  you  know,  it  is  said,  was  skilled  in  all  the  wisdom 
of  the  Egyptians !' 

fr  You  have,  indeed,  referred  to  a  striking  and  decisive  evi 
dence  of  the  greatness  of  African  attainments  at  a  very  early 
period.  We  have  conclusive  and  irresistible  proof  of  their 
quondam  greatness  also  in  their  works  of  art,  many  of  which, 
such  as  pyramids,  obelisks,  and  mausolea,  still  stand,  as  if 
in  mockery  of  the  very  credulity  of  a  man,  a  memorial  of 
their  spirit  and  skill.  True,  many  will  say,  however, 
that  the  ancient  Egyptians  were  a  very  "  different  race  of 
beings  from  those  tribes  which  have  supplied  the  world  with 
slaves  ;"  but  admit  that  they  were  in  some  respects  different, 
the  reference  to  them  is  sufficient  to  invalidate  the  sweeping 
declarations  of  many  in  regard  to  Africans.  There  are, 
however,  proofs  of  former  greatness  and  of  present  suscep 
tibility  of  great  improvement,  and  of  high  advances  in  genius 
and  learning,  among  other  portions  of  the  African  race.  And 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  57 


African  manuscripts — Christian  tribes — Large  cities. 

Mr.  Thompson,  late  Governor  of  Sierra  Leone,  in  a  letter 
to  a  distinguished  gentleman  of  Massachusetts,  published 
some  time  since,  says,  that  he  brought  from  Africa  manu 
scripts  sufficient  to  convince  him  that  the  interior  of  that 
great  continent  is  even  now  in  a  vastly  higher  state  of  civili 
zation  and  improvement  than  the  residents  on  the  coast  have 
any  idea  of.' 

*  Has  it  not  been  said  that  tribes  have  been  discovered  in 
the  interior  of  Africa  who  are  Christians?     If  I  recollect, 
missionaries  of  the  London  Church  Missionary  Society  for 
Egypt  and  Abyssinia,  found,  a  few  years  since,  a  tribe  never 
before  visited  by  Europeans,  who  appeared  to  have  much  in 
their  faith  that  is  scriptural,  and  whose  general  practice  is 
commendable. 

4  Fragmentary  Churches,  doubtless  exist  in  some  parts  of 
the  East  that  are  surrounded  by,  or  covered  with  great  moral 
darkness ;  and  I  know  not  but  as  the  churches  in  Syria,  of 
which  the  Rev.  Dr.  Buchanan  gives  so  interesting  an  ac 
count,  are  thought  to  possess  claims  to  apostolic  origin,  so 
the  people  of  Abyssinia  to  whom  you  refer,  may  be  regard 
ed  as  Christians. 

1  You  have  spoken,  Sir,  of  some  large  cities  visited  by 
Lt.  Laing,  or  other  travellers  :  do  you  suppose  that  such  set 
tlements  are  common  in  the  interior  ?' 

*  All  who  have  travelled  at  all  in  central  Africa,  have  found 
there   very  populous  and   highly  cultivated   countries,    in 
which  were  large  cities,  of  30,000  some,  and  50,000  some, 
or  more  inhabitants.     To  these  marts  resort  all  the  people  in 
the  neighborhood,  as  in  our  own  country  to  our  large  cities 
and  towns,  and  caravans  as  well  as  single  merchants  from  the 
most  remote  regions.' 

'  I  suppose,  Pa,  that  the  people  in  Africa  have  no  idea  that 
their  color  is  regarded  by  other  nations  as  a  blemish,  and 


58  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Black  has  sometimes  been  regarded  as  the  color  of  beauty. 

that  they  are  therefore  perfectly  satisfied  with  themselves  in 
that  respect  ?' 

« Indeed,  they  are  well  satisfied.  Whiteness,  when  first 
beheld,  is  shocking  to  them ;  they  attribute  it  to  disease.  A 
charitable  old  negro  woman  who  afforded  Park  a  meal  and  a 
lodging,  on  the  banks  of  the  Niger,  could  riot  refrain,  even 
in  the  midst  of  her  kindness,  from  exclaiming,  "  God  pre 
serve  us  from  the  DEVIL  !"  as  she  looked  npon  him.  And  it 
is  said  to  have  been  a  common  subject  of  regret  among  the 
girls  at  Bornou,  that  Denham  and  Clapperton  were  white.* 

'  Oh  !  Pa,  you  are  jesting,  I  know/ 

'Indeed,  Caroline,  I  am  not.' 

4  It  may  be  that  it  has  been  said  as  you  represent,  butr — 

Henry  here  remarked  that  '  Herodotus  has  said  "  The 
Ethiopians  excel  all  other  nations  in  personal  beauty" 
If  black  be  a  mark  of  beauty,  Caroline,'  he  mischievously 
remarked,  '  you  would  stand  but  little  chance  of  making  con 
quest  by  your  color,  of  an  ebony  ^Ethiop,  or  of  making  the 
best  market  of  yourself  in  Africa.' 

'  Indeed,  Henry,  I  think  I  should  not  repine/ 

*  But  to  be  serious,'  continued  Mr.  L.,  « it  is  a  singular  fact 
that  when  the  blacks  have  taken  precedence  of  the  whites  in 
civilization,  science,  and  political  power,  no  prejudice  has 
appeared  to  exist  against  the  color.  The  black  Prince, 
Memnon,  who  served  among  the  Trojan  auxiliaries  at  the 
siege  of  Troy,  is  constantly  spoken  of,  by  the  Greek  and 
Latin  authors,  as  a  person  of  extraordinary  beauty.  He  is 
qualified  as  the  Son  of  Aurora,  or  the  Morning.  The  pre 
judice  against  the  color  of  the  blacks,  many  contend  (and  I 
shall  not  undertake  to  controvert  their  argument,  although  I 
freely  acknowledge  my  own  views  would  lead  me  to  treat 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA.  59 


Domestic  slavery  in  Africa. 


with  great  disapprobation  any  plea  for  amalgamation,)  has 
grown  out  of  the  relative  condition  of  the  two  races.' 

Caroline  here  inquired,  *  Have  not  the  Africans  many 
slaves  among  themselves,  in  Africa?     If  I  recollect,   Mr. 
Clapperton  says  the  domestic  slaves  are  numerous.' 

*  There  is  a  great  deal  of  domestic  slavery  in  different 
parts  of  Africa ;  but  it  has  been  asserted  that,  for  the  most 
part,  slavery,  except  as   slaves  are  taken  to  be  sold  to  the 
slave-merchants  on  the  coast,  is  a  different  thing  in  Africa 
from  what  it  is  among  us.     I  know  not  that  it  is  said  that 
the  slaves  are  treated  better  than  with  us  ;  but  it  is  thought 
that  they  are  there  viewed  more  as  members  of  the  family 
to  which  they  are  attached  than  as  slaves.     Still,  I  am  in 
clined  to  think  that  this  is  a  gloss  which  a  comparison  would 
not  justify.' 

Henry  suggested,  at  this  point,  that  slavery  is  bad  enough, 
in  any  country,  and  under  any  circumstances.  «  Nothing,' 
said  he,  *  I  am  sure,  can  make  amends  for  the  loss  of  liberty 
— nothing,  I  mean,  that  man  can  offer.' 

Mr.  L.  had  *  no  doubt  there  has  been  many  an  instance  of 
that  which  Montgomery  has  so  finely  expressed, 

"  The  broken  heart  which  kindness  never  heals — 
The  home-sick  passion  which  the  negro  feels 
When  toiling,  fainting,  in  a  land  of  canes, 
His  spirit  wanders  to  his  native  plains, 
And  'neath  the  shade  of  his  paternal  trees, 
His  little  lonely  dwelling  there  he  sees, 
The  home  of  comfort." ' 

*  I  have  seen  it  stated,'  said  Henry,  « that  in  some  parts  of 
Africa  they  hunt  for  slaves  for  transportation  just  as  they 
would  hunt  for  wild  beasts.' 

*  It  is  said  that  in  Bornou,  for  instance,'  replied  Mr.  L.5 


60  PLEA    FOR  AFRICA. 


How  slaves  are  taken. 


«  where  the  slave-trade  is  carried  on  to  an  immense  extent 
and  is  the  principal  traffic,  the  mode  in  which  slaves  are  pro 
cured  is  very  summary :  A  caravan  of  Moorish  merchants 
arrives,  and  offers  goods  for  slaves.  If  there  are  no  slaves  on 
hand  they  must  be  procured.  The  Sultan  immediately  col 
lects  his  forces,  marches  into  the  country  of  some  harmless 
tribe,  burns  their  villages,  destroys  their  fields  and  flocks, 
massacres  the  infirm  and  old,  and  returns  with  as  many  able 
bodied  prisoners  as  he  can  seize.  Sometimes  3,000  have 
been  obtained  in  a  single  "  ghrazie,"  as  these  expeditions 
are  called.  The  way  in  which  slaves  are  obtained  is  some 
what  different  in  different  parts  of  Africa,  and  yet  is  very 
similar  in  all.' 

The  family  all  exclaimed,  *  How  horrible  !* 

Mr.  L.  resumed,  *  The  horrors  of  the  slave-trade  in  Af 
rica  are  great.  Distressing,  however,  as  is  the  situation  of 
the  captive  when  first 

"  before  his  eyes 
The  terrors  of  captivity  arise," 

his  sufferings  are  greater  in  what  is  called  the  "middle  pas 
sage,"  (that  is  during  the  voyage)  if  he  be  shipped  to  a  dis 
tant  land ;  and  if  they  be  carried,  to  supply  the  northern 
market,  across  the  great  desert,  their  sufferings  are  represent 
ed  as  even  greater.  Driven  by  Arab  merchants  to  the  North 
of  Africa,  through  the  deep  and  burning  sands  of  Sahara, 
scantily  supplied  with  water,  they  sink  in  great  numbers 
under  their  sufferings.  Denham  and  his  companions  saw, 
in  their  journey  ings,  melancholy  proofs  of  the  horrors  at 
tending  this  "middle  passage"  overland.  They  at  one 
time  halted  near  a  well  around  which  were  laying  more  than 
one  hundred  human  skeletons,  some  of  them  with  the  skin 
still  remaining  upon  the  bones.  "  They  were  only  blacks," 


?LEA   FOR   AFRICA.  "61 


Sufferings  of  the  captured  in  the  middle  passage. 

said  the  Arabs,  when  they  observed  the  horror  of  the  travel 
lers,  and  then  began  to  knock  about  the  limbs  and  skulls  with 
the  butt-ends  of  their  guns.  Denham  says  they  counted  in 
another  place  one  hundred  and  seven  skeletons.  In  other 
instances,  they  passed  sixty  or  eighty  skeletons  a  day  scat 
tered  along  over  that  dreary  waste.  About  the  walls  of  El- 
Hamar,  they  saw  many,  and  among  the  rest,  the  skeletons  of 
two  young  females,  faithful  friends  it  would  seem  even  in 
death,  for  these  skeletons  lay  with  their  fleshless  arms  still 
clasped  around  each  other.' 

Caroline  felt  a  little  faint,  but  after  a  few  moments'  inter 
ruption,  begged  her  father  to  proceed.  She  had  no  doubt  it 
was  owing  to  the  heat  of  the  room.  Mr.  L.,  with  some 
hesitancy,  continued :  *  While,  says  Denham,  while  I  was 
dozing  on  my  horse,  about  noon,  overcome  by  the  heat  of 
the  sun,  I  was  suddenly  awakened  by  a  crashing  under  my 
feet,  and  found  that  my  steed  had  stepped  on  the  perfect 
skeletons  of  two  human  beings,  cracking  their  brittle  bones 
under  his  feet,  and  by  one  trip  of  his  foot  separating  a  skull 
from  the  trunk,  it  rolled  on  like  a  ball  before  him.' 

1  0  horrid  barbarity!  Poor  Africa !'  exclaimed  Caroline ; 
*  how  she  has  suffered  !  I  do  not_wonder  that  that  wretched 
continent  has  been  represented  as  "  a  widow,  sitting  beneath 
her  own  palm-trees,  clothed  in  sackcloth,  and  weeping  for 
her  children  and  refusing  to  be  comforted !"  ' 

'  And  are  they  exposed  to  much  suffering  on  the  western 
coast,  when  taken  to  be  sent  on  ship-board,  to  be  conveyed 
to  other  lands  ?'  said  Henry. 

*  Yes,  their  sufferings  are  great,  and  frequently  insup 
portable.  At  the  lowest  estimate,  it  is  said  that  an  average 
of  one  hundred  thousand  of  the  African  race  have  been 
seized  every  year,  and  borne  across  the  Atlantic  to  supply 
the  West  Indies  and  the  Brazilian  market  alone.  The  wars 

£ 


62  PLEA    FOR  AFRICA, 

Horrors  of  Slavery — A  reproach  to  humanity. 

attending   the  capture  of  such  a  multitude,  make  Africa,  of 
course,  a  field  of  blood,  and  a  scene  of  great  affliction.' 

4  And  then,'  said  C.,  *  the  separation  of  relatives  and 
friends,  occasioned  by  the  forced  removal  of  the  captured,  I 
have  no  doubt  breaks  a  thousand  hearts  ;  O  it  is  shocking  to 
humanity  !  And  how  painful  is  it  to  think  that  much  of  the 
distress  which  Africa  has  endured,  has  been  occasioned,  per 
haps,  by  our  own  countrymen ;  or,  at  least,  has  been  caused 
by  inducements  which  in  our  own  country,  this  boasted  land 
of  liberty,  have  been  held  out  to  unprincipled  men  to  pro 
cure  slaves  and  bring  them  hither  !  It  appears  to  me,  Pa, 
that  encouragement  to  the  slave-trade,  in  a  country  like  ours, 
more  than  any  other,  is  dark  disgrace.' 

'  Yes,  my  daughter,  it  was  indeed  a  dark  blot  upon  our 
country's  glory.  It  was  felt  to  be  such  a  stain  as  no  Chris 
tian  nation  should  tolerate,  much  less,  a  people  distinguished 
above  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  for  their  civil  and  religious 
blessings,  and  whose  very  DECLARATION,  published  to  the 
world,  boldly  and  solemnly  asserts  that  all  men  are  created 
equal;  endowed  by  their  Creator  with  the  unalienable 
rights  of  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness.1* 

4 1  recollect,  Sir,'  said  H.,  *  some  lines  which  forcibly  illus 
trate  the  sentiment  you  express  ;  they  go  further,  however, 
and,  notwithstanding  the  slave-trade  is  prohibited  by  our 
laws,  reproach  us  for  the  continuance  of  slavery  among  us : 

"  ALL  ARE  BORN  FREE  ;   AND  ALL  WITH  EQUAL  RIGHTS. 

So  speaks  the  Charier  of  a  Nation,  proud 
Of  her  unequalled  liberties  and  laws  ; 
While,  in  that  nation,  shameful  to  relate, 
One  man  in  fve  is  born  and  dies  A  SLAVE." 

*  This  expression  has  been  by  some  of  late,  confidently  pronounced 
•'  false  in  fact,  and  contradicted  by  the  word  of  revelation."  We  think* 
however,  that  no  reasonable  man  can  deny  its  correctness,  in  the  obvious 
sense  in  which  it  was  intended  by  the  fraraers  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde* 
pendency 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  63 


An  evil  full  of  danger. 


'  Can  you  repeat  further  ?'  said  C.  *  If  I  recollect,  what 
follows  is  equally  elegant,  and  impressive.' 

'  I  can  imperfectly.  I  may  perhaps  do  injustice  to  the  au 
thor  by  some  omissions  or  alterations,  as  I  cannot  promise 
that  I  shall  give  the  precise  original,  in  totidem  verbis  : 

"  Is  this  my  country  ?  this  that  happy  land, 

The  wonder  and  the  envy  of  the  world  ? 

O  for  a  mantle  to  conceal  her  shame  ! 

But  why  ?  when  patriotism  cannot  hide 

The  ruin  which  her  guilt  will  surely  bring 

If  unrepented  ?  for  unless  the  God 

Who  poured  his  plagues  on  Egypt  till  she  let 

The  oppress'd  go  free,  and  often  pours  his  wrath 

In  earthquakes  and  tornadoes  on  the  isles 

Of  Western  India,  laying  waste  their  fields, 

Dashing  their  mercenary  ships  ashore, 

Tossing  the  isles  themselves  like  floating  wrecks, 

And  burying  towns  alive  in  one  wide  grave, 

No  sooner  ope'd  but  closed,  let  judgment  pass 

For  once  untasted  till  the  general  doom, 

Can  it  go  well  with  us  while  we  retain 

This  cursed  thing? 

"  Will  not  some  daring  spirit,  born  to  thoughts 
Above  his  beast-like  state,  find  out  the  truth 
That  Africans  are  '  men'  and  catching  fire 
From  freedom's  altar  raised  before  his  eyes 
With  incense  burning  sweet,  in  others  light 
A  kindred  flame  in  secret,  till  a  train 
Kindled  at  once,  deal  death  on  every  side  ? 

"  Cease,  then,  COLUMBIA — for  thy  safety,  cease, 
And  for  thine  honor  to  proclaim  the  praise 
Of  thy  fair  shores  of  liberty  and  joy, 
While  thrice  seven  hundred  thousand  wretched  slaves 
Are  held  in  thine  own  land .'"  ' 

*  The  poetry  is  very  good,  my  son,  and  in  some  respects 
the  sentiment  is  appropriate.  But  there  are  various  and 
weighty  considerations  connected  with  this  subject  which 
must  not  be  lost  sight  of.  The  enormity  of  the  slave-trade, 


64  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


The  evil  must  be  removed. 


we  all  admit,  and  I  am  by  no  means,  even  in  view  of  all  the 
peculiar  circumstances  in  which  we  are  placed,  an  advocate 
for  perpetuating  the  relation  which  we  find  existing  in  a 
portion  of  our  states :  I  confess,  however,  that  I  can  neither 
say  on  the  one  hand  that  duty  calls  imperatively  on  all  mas* 
ters  to  throw  up  at  once  that  legal  claim  to  the  services  of 
the  slave  which  the  constitution  recognizes ;  nor,  on  the 
other  hand,  that  all  has  been  done  which  ought  to  have  been 
done  for  the  amelioration  of  their  condition  and  the  ultimate 
extinction  of  the  relation.  The  subject,  I  am  constrained  to 
acknowledge,  is  attended  with  much  difficulty.  In  some 
future  conversation  I  will  express  my  views  more  fully  in 
reference  to  the  subject,  at  present  simply  adding  that  it  is 
one  of  great,  increasing,  and  solemn  interest.  We  are  a 
peculiar  people ;  and  as  a  nation  have  hitherto  enjoyed  unex 
ampled  prosperity.  Our  success,  I  doubt  not,  is  to  be  at 
tributed,  under  God,  in  a  great  measure  to  the  fact  that  our 
institutions,  since  the  Revolution,  are  based  on  the  principle 
of  moral  rectitude  and  the  equal  rights  of  man.  If  we 
abide  by  our  own  professed  declarations  and  principles,  we 
may  prosper  still.  But  our  prosperity  will  wane — our  hap 
piness  will  be  of  short  duration,  unless  our  practice  be  a 
consistent  comment  on  our  national  declarations  and  profes 
sions.  That  moral  debt  which  our  ancestors  contracted 
when  being  presented  with  the  forbidden  fruit,  they  took 
and  ate,  must  be  paid  by  us,  their  heirs,  (I  mean  the  debt 
we  owe  to  Africa,)  or  I  am  satisfied  that  our  country  will 
yet  feel  the  severe  scourge  of  heaven  !  We  must  do  what 
we  can  to  redress  the  wrongs  we  have  done,  or  our  country 
is  ruined !  It  will  be  of  no  avail  that  we  have  able  states 
men,  or  a  faithful  administration,  or  that  the  physical  strength 
and  resources  of  our  country  are  our  boast,  and  that  we  pride 
ourselves  on  the  valor  of  our  armies  and  the  gallantry  of  our 
navy  without  a  sacred  regard  to  the  immutable  principles  of 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  65 

Something  must  be  done. 

justice.  We  have  before  us  the  experience  of  ages — the 
philosophy  of  many  an  experiment  and  of  many  a  failure, 
in  the  history  of  nations  ;  and  we  must  profit  by  the  instruc 
tions  of  the  past,  if  we  would  be  successful  and  happy  for 
any  length  of  time  :  otherwise  the  period  may  arrive,  when,, 
ere  we  are  aware,  this  giant  republic  will  be  broken,  and 
scattered,  and  peeled.  Happy  should  I  be  to  see  in  every 
part  of  our  beloved  country  a  more  strict  regard  to  that  sacred 
maxim,  "  RIGHTEOUSNESS  EXALTETH  A  NATION."  ' 

*  I  hope  and  trust,  Pa,'  said  Caroline,  '  that  the  kind  Pro 
vidence  that  has  always  watched  over  us  for  good,  will  in 
cline  the  minds  of  this  people  to  a  right  course,  and  avert 
from  us  all  calamity.' 

*  I  hope  so.  But  the  slave  question  is,  I  fear,  pregnant  with 
danger ! 

"  You  do  not  think,  Pa,  that  danger  is  near?' 

4 1  know  not  at  what  moment  the  volcano  may  burst ;  but 
this  we  all  know,  that  already  we  have  heard  its  muttering, 
nor  has  it  been  without  some  transient  irruptions.  The 
Southampton  tragedy  cannot  soon  be  forgotten  ;  nor  can  we 
be  blind  to  the  exciting  nature  of  the  question  in  every  part  of 
the  Union.  The  elements  of  destruction  are  indeed  among 
us.  Two  millions  of  slaves,  and  three  hundred  thousand 
free  blacks,  with  their  rapid  increase,  in  connexion  with  the 
diversity  of  feeling  and  sentiment  which  exist  among  our 
selves,  and  the  lack  of  sympathy  for  our  situation  among 
other  nations,  are,  altogether,  a  tremendous  evil.  We  live 
indeed  in  a  peculiar  age.  Great  changes  are  taking  place  in 
the  earth.  The  ball  of  revolution  is  moved. 

The  age  finds  all  within  the  vortex  drawn, 
The  strength  of  current  far  too  great  to  stem 
By  feigned  indifference. 
E2 


66  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


Something  must  be  done. 


Jind  something  must  be  done ;  for  a  crisis  is  near.  The 
considerate  feel  this  and  acknowledge  it.  What  can  be  done, 
or  how  a  "  consummation  most  devoutly  to  be  wished," 
shall  be  effected,  is  an  important,  serious,  solemn  question.' 

*  I  should  think,  Pa,  that  there  can  be  but  one  opinion  as 
to  the  expediency  of  attending  to  the  subject,  and  doing  some 
thing  effectual  to  remove  the  evil  entirely  from  among  us  ?' 

'  And  I,'  said  Henry,  '  should  think  there  could  be,  amongst 
the  discerning,  but  one  opinion  in  respect  to  the  advantages 
of  colonization.' 

'  In  respect  to  the  means  most  proper  to  be  employed,' 
said  Mr.  L.,  *  there  is  a  difference  of  opinion  ;  but  reflecting 
men  generally,  as  I  said  before,  are  beginning  to  feel,  more 
than  ever,  that  something  must  be  done.  No  one  who  looks 
at  the  subject  with  a  candid  eye  can,  it  seems  to  me,  doubt 
either  the  expediency  of  encouraging  the  colonization  of  our 
colored  population  in  Africa,  or  the  desirableness  of  the 
abolishment  of  slavery  in  our  land.  Connected  with  this 
subject  are  great  questions,  which  I  have  said,  involve  great 
considerations,  requiring  the  wisdom  which  is  from  above, 
and  calling  for  a  spirit  of  prayer,  meekness,  and  great  for 
bearance.  Already  are  there  thrown  around  it  difficulties 
and  embarrassment  which  ought  to  have  been  avoided,  or 
rather  I  would  say,  ought  never  to  have  been  created.  A 
wrong  spirit  and  unwise  measures  only  increase  the  evil. 
So  serious  and  alarming  is  it  now,  that  very  many  are  ac 
tually  afraid  to  look  the  subject  full  in  the  face.  What  shall 
be  done  ?  is  a  question  which  they  dare  not  meet,  although 
all  the  while  they/ear  that  it  will  force  itself  upon  us  in  a  way 
that  shall  be  most  painful.  I  confess,  for  my  own  part,  that 
I  have  sometimes  apprehended  that  an  issue  may  possibly 
come  in  a  shape  that  shall  demand  tears  of  anguish  for  rivers 
of  blood.  May  all  that  relates  to  this  subject  be  wisely  and 
kindly  ordered  by  a  good  and  merciful  Providence.' 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  67 

Self-preservation,  a  law  of  nature. — A  change  is  taking  place. 


CONVERSATION    VII. 

"  We  are  required  to  devise  some  means  whereby  the  political  evil  which 
we  have  inherited  may  be  corrected,  and  a  foul,  unseemly  stain  washed 
from  our  national  escutcheon.  Duty  to  the  colored  population  of  our  coun 
try  calls  loudly  for  it — duty  to  ourselves  demands  it." — Gov.  Vroom. 

ll  have  been  thinking  much,  through  the  day,'  said  Caro 
line,  '  of  our  last  conversation.  Self-preservation,  it  is  some 
times  asserted  as  a  maxim  incontrovertible,  is  the  first  law  of 
nature.  It  is  a  law,  however,  which  appears  to  me  to  be 
very  little  regarded,  or  there  could  not,  I  think,  be  such  apa 
thy  in  respect  to  the  dangers  that  surround  us.  Self-interest, 
I  should  think,  would  furnish  to  the  southern  people  pressing 
motives  to  a  right  course,  and  that  as  far  as  practicable  they 
would  join  in  immediate  and  vigorous  action  for  freeing  our 
land  finally  from  the  very  last  remnant  of  slavery.' 

'  The  public  are  awakening  to  the  importance  of  the  sub 
ject,'  replied  Mr.  L.,  '  and  begin  to  feel  more  than  formerly 
the  urgency  of  the  case.  Every  passing  month,  the  cause 
of  Africa's  unhappy  children,  is  finding  new  and  ardent 
friends.  The  duty  which  we  owe  ourselves,  our  country, 
and  the  world,  demands  of  us  greater  sympathy  for  that  long 
neglected  portion  of  our  globe.  The  time,  I  trust,  will  come, 
when  every  band  that  chafes  the  limbs  or  the  souls  of  our 
colored  brethren  will  be  loosed.  A  mighty  change  has  taken 
place,  and  is  still  increasing.  In  this  subject  the  non-slave- 
holding  States  as  well  as  the  South  have  and  feel  a  deep 
interest.' 

*  In  case  of  insurrection  among  the  slaves  of  the  South,  I 
do  not  see  that  we  should  be  in  any  danger,  Pa  ?' 

'  We  might  not  be  in  any  personal  danger,  my  son  ;  but  is 
not  the  South  as  well  as  the  North  our  country ;  are  not  the 


68  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


Our  whole  country  has  one  common  interest. 


noble-hearted  Southrons  our  brethren  ;  and  are  they  not  every 
way  worthy  of  our  warm  affection  and  respect  ?  They  are 
indeed  part  of  ourselves.  If  personal  danger  were  the  only 
cause  of  alarm,  we  surely  could  not  be  indifferent  spectators 
of  a  scene  of  revolt  and  its  dreadful  consequences.  Our  in 
terests  are  interwoven,  and  bound  together  by  many  ties. 
Our  intimate  friends  and  connexions  are  scattered  over  the 
Union,  and  ourselves,  or  our  children  may  be  on  the  very 
centre  of  the  crater,  when  the  volcano  shall  burst.  *  There 
are  other  considerations,  however,  which  should  not  be 
viewed  with  indifference.  Such  is  the  genius  of  our  govern 
ment,  that  if  one  member  suffer,  all  the  members  suffer  with 
it.  Frequent  collisions  of  feeling,  clashing  of  sentiment,  and 
contentions  for  opposite  interests  are  painfully  adapted  to 
sunder  the  strongest  bonds  of  brotherhood.  The  existence 
of  slavery  in  our  land,  has  more  than  once  been  the  fertile 
theme  of  political  strife  in  our  national  councils,  the  rallying 
point  of  contending  parties.  It  has  lately  engendered  much 
bad  feeling,  and  what  will  be  its  final  result  is  the  subject  of 
much  anxious  speculation  and  the  cause  of  unpleasant  fore 
bodings.  To  be  united,  prosperous,  and  happy,  for  any 
length  of  time,  we  must  be  one  in  sentiment,  one  in  action, 
one  in  character.' 

*  The  tariff  question  did  much  to  provoke  unpleasant  feel 
ing  between  the  different  parts  of  the  Union,  did  it  not,  Pa  ?' 

'  Tariff  and  anti-tariff  views,  and  the  like,  have  had  less  to 
do  in  producing  the  commotions  which  have  convulsed  our 
country  at  different  times,  than  many  are  aware  of.  It  was 
an  evil  hour  when  slavery  was  introduced  to  this  otherwise 
favored  land.  Its  unhappy  influence  has  been  gradually  de 
veloped  until  its  curse  has  become  tremendous.  Admit  that 
we  feel  its  direct  influence  but  little  in  this  part  of  our  coun 
try  ;  still,  it  has  an  influence  indirect,  which  more  than  all 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  69 

Slavery  is  the  bane  of  our  peace  and  unity. 

things  else  contributes  to  mar  and  jeopard  the  peace,  the 
welfare,  and  the  permanency  of  the  Union.  "  The  fact  is," 
says  one  of  her  own  distinguished  citizens,  "  SLAVERY  is  the 
bane  and  the  ruin  of  one  portion  of  our  land,  and  the  advan 
tage  of  FREE  LABOR  and  industry  has  exalted  the  other  por- 
tion.  The  natural  consequence  is,  a  morbid  sensibility  and 
ever  wakeful  jealousy  on  the  part  of  the  depressed ;  and  an 
increasing  desire  for  greater  gain  and  aggrandisement,  on  the 
part  of  the  other.  Yes,  it  is  slavery  that  sinks  the  South  ! 
See  the  wide-spreading  ruin  which  the  avarice  of  our  ances 
tral  government  has  produced,  as  witnessed  in  a  sparse  popu 
lation  of  freemen,  deserted  habitations,  fields  without  culture  ; 
and,  strange  to  tell,  even  the  wolf,  driven  back  long  since  by 
the  approach  of  man,  now  returns,  after  the  lapse  of  an  hun 
dred  years,  to  howl  over  the  desolations  of  slavery."  Their 
lands  worn  out,  in  a  great  measure,  under  the  ungrateful  cul 
tivation  of  slaves ;  the  population  of  freemen  declining,  or 
wending  their  westward  way ;  and  those  interests  neglected 
which  would  have  been  cultivated  by  a  free,  white,  and 
working  population,  the  South  feels  but  too  sensibly  every 
effort  which  other  sections  make  to  sustain  themselves,  as  if 
oppressive  of  her — whilst,  all  the  time,  the  evil,  the  root  of 
the  evil,  is  SLAVERY  !*  The  South  has  injured,  and  is  yet 

*  It  may  not  be  amiss  to  introduce  and  record  here  an  elegant  tribute  to 
the  North,  from  the  eloquent  lips  of  Mr.  PRESTON  of  South  Carolina,  recent 
ly  delivered  at  a  public  meeting  at  Columbia,  S.  C.,  as  reported  in  a  south 
ern  paper.  The  sentiments  expressed,  leave  the  unavoidable  impression 
upon  the  mind  that  the  great  cause  of  the  difference  to  which  Mr.  Preston 
adverts,  is  found  in  the  fact  that  free  labor  is  preferable  as  a  matter  of  po 
licy  and  interest  to  slave  labor;  and  that  the  South,  with  all  her  natural  ad 
vantages,  will  never  become  what  she  might  be,  until  the  character  of  her 
working  population  is  changed. 

"  Mr.  PRESTON,  in  his  speech  drew  a  very  striking  contrast  between  the 
difference  of  character  of  the  people  of  the  Northern  and  of  the  Southern 
parts  of  the  Union,  and  the  consequently  opposite  condition  of  the  countries 
that  they  inhabit.  He  said  that  no  southern  man  can  journey  (as  he  had 
done)  through  the  Northern  states,  and  witness  the  prosperity,  the  industry, 
the  public  spirit,  which  they  exhibit,  the  sedulous  cultivation  of  all  those 
arts  by  which  life  is  rendered  comfortable  and  respectable,  without  feelings 
of  deep  sadness  and  shame,  as  he  remembers  his  own  neglected  and  desolate 


70  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Slavery  depresses  the  South. — Is  unprofitable. 


crushing  herself,  by  cherishing  an  evil  which  will  yet  be 
found  to  be  more  than  can  be  borne.  She  cannot  rise  whilst 
the  evil  remains.  She  feels  it ;  and  the  other  states  see  it  to 
be  so.  It  is  a  subject,  however,  that  can  hardly  be  discuss- 
home.  There,  no  dwelling  is  to  be  seen  abandoned,  no  farm  uncultivated, 
no  man  idle,  no  waterfall,  even,  unemployed.  Every  person  and  every 
thing  performs  a  part  towards  the  grand  result,  and  the  whole  land  is  cover 
ed  with  fertile  fields,  with  manufactories,  and  canals,  and  railroads,  and 
public  edifices,  and  towns  and  cities.  Along  the  route  of  the  great  New- 
York  canal,  that  glorious  monument  of  the  glorious  memory  of  De  Witt  Clin 
ton,  a  canal,  a  railroad,  and  a  turnpike,  are  to  be  seen  in  the  width  of  per 
haps  a  hundred  yards,  each  of  them  crowded  with  travel,  or  overflowing 
•with  commerce.  Throughout  their  course,  lands  that  before  their  construc 
tion  would  scarcely  command  five  dollars  the  acre,  now  sell  for  fifty,  seventy- 
five,  or  a  hundred.  Passing  along  it,  you  see  no  space  of  three  miles  with 
out  a  town  or  village,  and  you  are  never  out  of  the  sound  of  a  church  bell. 
We  of  the  South  are  mistaken  in  the  character  of  those  people,  when  we 
think  of  them  only  as  pedlars  in  horn  flints  and  bark  nutmegs.  Their  energy 
and  enterprise  are  directed  to  all  objects,  great  and  small,  within  their  reach. 
At  the  fall  of  a  scanty  rivulet,  they  set  up  their  little  manufactory  of  wooden 
buttons  or  combs;  they  plant  a  barren  hill-side  with  broom  corn,  and  make 
it  into  brooms  at  the  bottom — and  on  its  top  they  erect  a  wind-mill.  Thus, 
at  a  single  spot  you  may  see  the  air,  the  earth,  and  the  water,  all  working 
for  them.  But,  at  the  same  time,  the  ocean  is  whitened  ^oits  extremities 
with  the  sails  of  their  ships,  and  the  land  is  covered  with  their  works  of  art 
and  usefulness. 

"  Massachusetts  is  perhaps  the  most  flourishing  of  the  Northern  states.  Yet, 
of  natural  productions,  she  exports  but  two  articles — granite  and  ice.  Abso 
lutely  nothing  but  rock  and  ice  !  Every  thing  else  of  her  commerce,  from 
which  she  derives  so  much,  is  artificial — the  work  of  her  own  handa.  All 
this  is  done,  in  a  region  with  a  bleak  climate  and  sterile  soil,  by  the  energy 
and  intelligence  of  the  people.  Each  man  knows  that  the  public  good  is  his 
individual  advantage.  The  number  of  railroads,  and  other  modes  of  expe 
ditious  intercommunication,  knits  the  whole  country  into  a  closely  compact 
ed  mass,  through  which  the  productions  of  commerce  and  of  the  press,  the 
comforts  of  life,  and  the  means  of  knowledge,  are  universally  diffused;  while 
the  close  intercourse  of  travel  and  business  makes  all  men  neighbors,  and 
promotes  a  common  interest  and  common  sympathy.  In  a  community  thus 
connected,  a  single  flash  of  thought  pervades  the  whole  land,  almost  as  ra 
pidly  as  thought  itself  can  fly.  The  population  becomes,  as  it  were,  a  single 
set  of  muscles,  animated  by  one  heart,  and  directed  by  a  common  sensorium. 

"  How  different  the  condition  of  things  in  the  South  !  Here,  the  face  of  the 
country  wears  the  aspect  of  premature  old  age  and  decay.  No  improvement 
is  seen  going  on,  nothing  is  done  for  posterity,  no  man  thinks  of  any  thing 
beyond  the  present  moment.  Our  lands  are  yearly  tasked  to  their  utmost 
capacity  of  production,  and,  when  exhausted,  are  abandoned  for  the  youthful 
west.  "Because  nature  has  been  prodigal  to  us,  we  seem  to  think  it  unneces 
sary  to  do  any  thing  for  ourselves.  The  industry  arid  skill  that  have  con 
verted  the  inclement  and  barren  hills  of  New  England  into  a  garden,  in  the 
genial  climate  and  fertile  soil  of  the  South,  would  create  almost  a  paradise. 
Our  natural  advantages  are  among  the  greatest  with  which  Providence  has 
hlessed  mankind,  but  we  lack  the  spirit  to  enjoy  and  improve  them.  The 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  71 

Introduced  by  England. — Policy  of  England. 

ed  at  all  in  its  various  bearings  without  eliciting  sectional 
jealousy,  or  party  severity,  and  enkindling  mutual  animosi 
ties,  although  it  is  an  evil  that  convulses  and  stains  the  entire 
length  and  breadth  of  our  land  1* 

'  You  consider  slave  labor  then  as  unprofitable,  Pa  ?' 

*  There  are  individual  exceptions,  undoubtedly,  in  which 
the  slave  dedicates  himself  to  his  master  with  the  most  zeal 
ous  and  generous  devotion  ;  but  generally  that  labor  we 
should  suppose  most  profitable,  in  which  the  laborer  knows 
that  he  will  derive  the  profits  of  his  industry ;  his  employ- 
ment  depending  on  his  diligence,  and  his  reward  upon  his 
assiduity.  There  is  every  motive  to  excite  to  exertion,  and 
to  animate  to  perseverance.  Therefore,  where  the  choice 
exists  to  employ,  at  an  equal  hire,  free,  or  slave  labor,  the 
former  will  be  decidedly  preferred,  because  it  is  regarded  as 
more  capable,  more  diligent,  more  faithful,  more  worthy  of 
confidence.  Where  capital  is  unable  to  command  the  free 
labor  that  is  required,  as  has  been  sometimes  the  case  in  the 
first  settlement  of  some  parts  of  our  country,  it  may  there 
purchase  that  of  slaves.' 

4  Then  slavery  was  introduced  into  this  country  on  ac 
count  of  the  difficulty  of  procuring  free  labor  in  the  first  set 
tlement  of  the  country,  was  it,  sir  ?' 

'  Yes  ;  the  first  guilt  of  the  introduction  of  slavery  into 
this  country  is  chargeable  upon  England ;  and  the  circum 
stances  are  such  as  show  conclusively  that  where  free  labor 
can  be  had,  avarice,  which  knows  the  way  to  wealth  even 
better  than  philosophy  itself,  prefers  free  labor.  When  Eng- 

rich  ore  is  beneath  our  feet,  yet  we  dig  not  for  it.  The  golden  fruit  hangs 
from  the  bough,  and  we  lift  not  our  hands  to  gather  it.  The  cask  of  delicious 
liquor  is  before  pur  eves,  but  we  are  too  lazy  even  to  broach  it.  In  thinking, 
in  writing,  arid  in  talking,  we  are  equal  to  any  people  on  the  face  of  the 
•earth  i  but  we  do  nothing  but  think,  write,  and  talk." 


72  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Slavery  retires  South— cannot  be  supported  on  barren  soil. 

land  introduced  slavery  into  her  American  colonies  and 
islands,  she  had  as  much  free  labor  at  home  as  the  land-holders 
wanted  to  employ  ;  and  it  has  been  on  this  account,  and  this 
only,  that  the  poet  was  enabled  to  say, 

"  Slaves  cannot  breathe  in  England  ;  if  their  lungs 
Receive  our  air,  that  moment  they  are  free  ; 
They  touch  our  country,  and  their  shackles  fall." 

The  fact  is,  the  respiration  could  go  on  well  enough  in  those 
parts  of  her  dominions  where  free  labor  was  not  to  be  ob 
tained.  In  America  was  a  widely-extended  territory,  with 
a  soil  and  climate  adapted  to  the  raising  of  the  most  profit 
able  articles  of  commerce.  In  order  to  render  the  colonies 
an  immediate  and  productive  source  of  revenue,  which  wras 
the  settled  policy  of  England,  and  on  which  she  placed  great 
reliance,  (monopolizing  at  the  same  time  all  her  colonial 
commerce,  and  taking  care  to  increase  that  commerce  as 
much  as  possible  by  increasing  the  productions  of  the  soil,) 
an  immediate  supply  of  labor  was  necessary.  As  an  expe 
dient  to  provide  for  her  colonial  wants,  she  commenced  fill 
ing  her  colonies  with  African  slaves  !  She  would  not  tole 
rate  slavery  at  home,  and  yet  would  provide  for,  and  locate 
the  evil  among  her  distant  children,  who,  consulting  their 
immediate  profit,  and  regardless  of  future  consequences,  at 
length  fell  in  with  the  slave-policy  of  the  mother  country, 

'  The  same  causes  which  induced  England  to  prohibit 
slavery  at  home,  and  yet  pour  slaves  into  her  colonies,  it 
may  be  remarked,  led  Spain  and  France  and  all  the  European 
powers,  who  were  supplied  with  free  labor  at  home,  but  had 
infant  colonies  in  the  West  Indies  or  America,  to  do  the 
same.  Instead  of  waiting  for  the  New  World  to  populate 
with  laborers  by  the  emigration  of  free  men,  and  the  natural 
increase  of  population,  slavery  was  resorted  to  as  a  more 
speedy  method  of  introducing  labor.  It  was  introduced  to 
the  colonies  only,  because  free  labor  was  not  to  be  had  there  : 


PLEA  FOR  AFRICA.  73 


Occasions  much  anxiety. 


and  not  into  the  mother  country  because  slave  labor  cannot 
compete  with  the  free  where  the  employer  has  his  choice.' 

*  How  inappropriate  then  the  praise  which  Cowper  be 
stows  on  his  native  country,  in  the  lines  that  follow  the  quo 
tation  which  you  just  now  made  : 

"  That's  noble,  and  bespeaks  a  nation  proud 
And  jealous  of  the  blessing." 

If  slave  labor  be  so  unprofitable,  and  if  the  naturally  rich 
lands  of  the  South  become,  in  process  of  time,  barren  under 
its  culture,  it  is  not  strange  that  slavery  should  have  retired 
first  from  the  Northern  and  Eastern  states.' 

*  Slavery  is  a  tax  that  poor  soils  and  cold  climates  like 
ours  cannot  endure.  The  cost  of  cultivating  an  unproductive 
soil  with  slaves,  is  more  than  the  productions  of  the  soil 
would  bring  in  return.' 

*  Yet  cold  countries  and  comparatively  unproductive  soils 
are  cultivated  by  free  labor  to  advantage  ?' 

*  Yes  ;  Switzerland,   Scotland,  and  New  England,  are 
striking  examples  of  it.     The  freedom  and  character  of  the 
laboring    population,  make  these  countries    populous  and 
wealthy,  although  nature  has  by  no  means  been  liberal  in 
her  gifts  to  either  of  them.  Introduce  there  a  system  of  slave 
labor,  and  pauperism  and  famine  would  be  the  inevitable 
consequence.     It  has  been  well  remarked  that  "free  and 
slave  labor  move  in  opposite  directions  from  the  same  point 
of  departure  ;  and,  while  one  is  regularly  diminishing  the  ca 
pacity  of  the  earth  for  production,  the  other  is  constantly 
nourishing  and  invigorating  its  powers."     It  is  an  opinion 
of  no  recent  date,  but  ancient  as  slavery  itself,  that  the  labor 
of  bondmen  is  gradually  destructive  of  the  soil  to  which  it  is 
applied.' 

*  I  can  appreciate  now,'  said  Caroline,  « a  remark  of  Miss 

F 


74  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA* 

Great  vigilance  necessary. 

Harriet  Martineau — she  says,  "  The  slave  system  inflicts  an 
incalculable  amount  of  human  suffering  for  the  sake  of  a 
wholesale  waste  of  labor  and  capital.""  I  have  been  told 
that  the  slave  population  of  the  South  is  a  great  check  upon 
the  enjoyments  of  life,  and  a  source  of  constant  apprehension 
and  of  very  frequent  alarm.  It  seems  to  me  that  if  I  lived  at 
the  South,  I  should  have  the  bloody  scenes  of  St.  Domingo 
and  the  Southampton  massacre  haunting  my  fears  continu 
ally.' 

*  1  cannot  say  that  I  ever  felt  alarmed  on  account  of  per 
sonal  exposure  at  the  South,  although  I  resided  there,  many 
years,  in  the  midst  of  a  slave  population  chiefly.  I  confess, 
however,  I  now  conceive  the  danger  greatly  increased.  Your 
mother  was  once  obliged,  in  company  with  a  multitude  of 
other  ladies  and  their  children,  to  flee,  in  the  night,  several 
miles  into  the  country,  at  a  time  of  threatened  insurrection. 
In  some  parts  of  the  southern  states  such  causes  of  fear  and 
momentary  distress,  are  not  unfrequent.' 

1 1  suppose,  Pa,  that  the  circumstances  of  the  Southamp 
ton  insurrection  are  recollected  by  you  :  will  you  give  us 
some  account  of  it.  I  have  forgot  its  detail,  although  I  re 
tain  the  impression  which  it  made.  The  leader  of  that  in 
surrection  was  a  negro,  was  he  not  ?' 

'  It  would  neither  be  pleasant  nor  profitable  to  dwell  on 
that  most  melancholy  catastrophe.  Suffice  it  to  say,  it  was 
planned  by  a  negro,  by  the  name  of  Turner.  He  communi 
cated  his  plans  to  a  few  kindred  spirits,  who  with  ready 
minds  and  hands  engaged  in  the  work  of  preparation.  Others 
\vere  gradually  prepared  for  the  intended  event.  When 
the  work  of  destruction  commenced,  they  armed  themselves 
with  hatchets  and  axes.  Turner  ascended  by  a  ladder  to 
the  upper  part  of  his  master's  house  in  the  silence  of  night, 
and  passing  down  stairs,  opened  the  outer  doors  of  the  house 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  75 


Insurrectionary  alarms. 


to  his  followers,  and  told  them  the  work  was  now  open  to 
them,  Turner  himself  giving  the  first  blow  with  a  hatchet 
both  to  his  master  and  mistress  as  they  lay  asleep  in  bed. 
In  his  confession,  he  said  that  his  "  master  sprung  from  the 
bed  and  called  his  wife,  but  it  was  the  last  word  ;  another 
blow  laid  him  and  his  wife  both  dead."  The  murder  of  the 
family,  five  in  number,  was  the  work  of  a  moment.  "  Not 
one  of  them  awoke,"  said  Turner.  He  continues,  "  There 
was  a  little  infant  sleeping  in  a  cradle,  that  was  forgotten 
until  we  had  left  the  house  and  gone  some  distance,  when 
Harry  and  Will  (two  accomplices)  returned  and  killed  it. 
We  got  here  four  guns  and  several  old  muskets,  with  a 
pound  or  two  of  powder."  They  then  proceeded  to  the- 
next  house,  a  mile  distant.  They  there  shot  a  man  whom 
they  met  in  the  yard.  It  was  now  day-light.  The  family 
in  the  house  took  the  alarm,  and  fastened  the  door.  With 
one  stroke  of  an  axe  the  door  was  broken  in.  They  entered, 
and  finding  two  ladies,  they  killed  them,  one  with  a  single 
blow  of  an  axe,  the  other,  Turner  said,  he  "  took  by  the 
hand  and  with  a  sword  struck  her  several  blows  over  the 
head,  but  the  sword  being  dull,  another  negro  despatched 
her  with  an  axe."  At  another  house,  after  having  murdered 
all  the  family  but  the  lady  and  her  daughter,  Turner  said 
that  one  of  his  associates  "  pulled  the  lady  out  of  the  house, 
and  on  the  steps  severed  her  head  from  her  body  with  a 
broadaxe."  "Miss ,"  he  continues,  "when  I  dis 
covered  her,  had  concealed  herself  in  the  corner  formed  by 
the  projection  of  the  cellar-cap  from  the  house.  On  my 
approach  she  fled,  but  was  soon  overtaken,  and,  after  re 
peated  blows  with  the  sword,  I  killed  her  by  a  blow  on  the 
head  with  a  fence-rail."  In  this  way  they  proceeded  until 
more  than  sixty  persons,  men,  women,  and  children,  fell  a 
sacrifice  to  the  vengeance  of  their  slaves.  I  cannot  go 
through  with  a  rehearsal  of  all  the  circumstances.  I  have 


76  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Insurrectionary  alarms. 


not  a  heart  for  it.  What  has  been  related,  nearly  in  the 
language  of  Turner  himself,  will  serve  to  give  one  some 
faint  idea  of  the  horrors  of  a  negro  insurrection,  and  of  the 
dangers  against  which  the  utmost  vigilance  is  necessary  to 
guard  the  lives  of  multitudes. 

'  I  have  here  a  letter  from  a  gentleman  in  Georgia,  which 
will  perhaps  enable  you  to  form  a  more  vivid  idea  of  the  sen 
sation  produced  in  every  southern  town,  when  an  insurrec 
tion  is  apprehended.  The  letter  was  written  some  time 

since,  not  to  myself,  but  to  Mr. .     It  says,  "  The 

papers  from  this  state  have  no  doubt  apprised  you  of  the 
excitement  which  prevails  here  about  our  black  population. 
We  were  all  thrown  into  great  fright  and  confusion,  a  few 
nights  since,  by  a  report  that  .the  negroes  on  a  plantation 
about  five  miles  distant  had  risen,  and  were  marching  direct 
for  the  town.  It  was  1 1  o'clock  at  night,  when  the  whole 
population  were  in  their  beds.  You  cannot  conceive,  no 
matter  how  active  your  imagination  may  be,  the  scene  that 
ensued.  In  an  hour,  every  woman  and  child  in  the  place 
was  transported  to  the  largest  building  in  the  town  for  safety, 
and  a  large  patrol  placed  in  front  to  protect  them.  I  had  re 
tired  when  the  alarm  was  given,  but  we  immediately  got  up 

and  dressed,  and  were  soon  after  joined  by  Mrs. ,  with 

her  infant,  pale  as  marble.  I  closed  the  door,  and  urged 
them  to  be  quiet,  and  remain  in  the  house ;  but  it  was  use 
less — go  they  would — others  were  gone,  and  they  would 
not  stay  to  be  murdered.  Finding  reasoning  lost,  I  opened 
the  door  and  out  we  sallied — your  humble  servant  with  a 
half  naked  babe  in  his  arms,  and  two  women  by  his  side, 
scudding  with  as  much  speed  as  a  Baltimore  schooner,  under 
a  full  press  of  canvass.  *  *  We  staid  all  night.  *  *  The 
alarm  has  subsided,  but  I  do  not  think  we  are  safe  one  hour, 
The  very  elements  of  destruction  are  around  us,  mingling 
in  all  our  relations,  and  we  know  not  at  what  moment  th§ 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  77 


Slavery  an  evil  to  master  snd  slave. 


storm  may  burst  over  us.  An  insurrectionary  spirit  is  abroad, 
and  God  only  knows  when  it  will  be  subdued — my  own 
opinion  is  that  it  never  will  be" 

'  O  slavery !'  said  Caroline,  *  I  hardly  know  which  situa 
tion  is  more  distressing — that  of  the  slave-holder,  or  his 
bondmen.' 


CONVERSATION    VIII. 


"  What  day  passes  by  without  the  occurrence  of  some  event,  or  the  wit 
ness  of  some  scene,  which  draws  from  every  feeling  heart  a  sigh  or  a  prayer 
for  the  complete  fulfilment  of  all  the  most  sanguine  hopes  of  the  friends  of 
colonization  ?  It  is  not  merely  for  an  unfortunate  portion  of  our  fellow  be 
ings,  who  have  been  thrown  upon  our  charity,  that  this  Society  is  formed  : 
ourselves,  our  children,  our  land,  and  every  institution  of  our  beloved  coun 
try,  are  deeply  involved." — Bishop  Meade. 

*  WE  are  now  ready  for  another  conversation  on  Africa.    1 
thought  that  you,  at  least,  Caroline,  retired  from  the  subject 
last  night  well  satisfied  with  a  residence  in  a  non-slavehold- 
ing  state,   and  congratulating   yourself,   perhaps,  that   you 
could  lay  your  head  on  your  pillow  without  the  apprehen 
sion  of  being  aroused  before  morning  by  the  cry  of  "an  in 
surrection  ?" 

*  Indeed,  Pa,  I  have  thought  much  of  the  South ;  more, 
perhaps,  because  I  was  born  there  ;  and  I  acknowledge  that 
I  have  often  wished  to  see  the  land  of  my  infancy  and  ear 
liest  childhood,  especially  when  I  have  heard  you  speak  so 
honorably  and  feelingly  of  the  kindness  and  hospitality  of 
the  South,  and  so  affectionately  of  the  many  warm  friends 
we  have  there.     I  have  myself  formed  a  very  exalted  idea 
of  the  warm-hearted  friendship  and  genuine  hospitality  of  the 

F  2 


78  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Slavery  attended  with  anxieties. 


South.  I  also  think  I  should  like  their  pleasant  winters,  and 
should  relish  their  summer  fruits.  Still  I  cannot  say  that  I 
am,  in  view  of  all  circumstances,  anxious  to  take  up  my 
residence,  even  for  a  few  months,  in  the  midst  of  so  much 
anxiety  and  alarm  as  I  am  sure  I  should  feel  in  any  place 
surrounded  by  a  population  composed,  in  a  great  proportion, 
of  slaves.  I  want  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  slavery.  I 
can  adopt  Cowper's  declaration  with  all  sincerity  : 

"  I  would  not  have  a  slave  to  till  my  ground, 

To  carry  me,  to  fan  me  while  I  sleep, 

And  tremble  when  I  wake,  for  all  the  wealth 

That  sinews  bought  and  sold  have  ever  earn'd. 

IVo :  dear  as  freedom  is,  and  in  my  heart's 

Just  estimation  prized  above  all  price, 

I  had  much  rather  be  myself  the  slave, 

And  wear  the  bonds,  than  fasten  them  on  him." ' 

'  Pa,'  said  Henry,  '  are  not  the  laws  of  slave-holding 
states  very  severe  in  respect  to  the  slave  ?  I  have  read  some 
very  cruel  enactments,  as  they  appeared  to  me.  I  recollect 
that  about  the  time  of  the  Southampton  massacre,  or  soon 
after  it,  the  legislature  of  Louisiana  adopted  very  severe  re 
solutions,  in  respect  to  slaves,  and  ordered  all  free  people 
who  had  lately  come  into  the  state,  to  leave  it  within  sixty 
days.' 

*  I  would  offer  no  apology  for  needless  severity,  my  son  ; 
but  it  is  conceded  by  all  that  the  very  existence  of  slavery 
seems  to  require  some  provisions  for  its  maintenance.  In 
my  own  view,  the  necessity  for  severe  enactments,  shows 
slavery  to  be  a  great  evil.  It  is  pleaded  however  by  the 
people  of  the  South,  that  rigorous  laws  and  those  which 
seem  to  some  cruelly  severe,  are  made  necessary  by  "  the 
interference  of  strangers."  The  resolutions,  for  instance,  to 
which  you  refer  as  having  passed  the  Louisiana  legislature, 
were  adopted  a  few  days  after  the  arrest  in  New  Orleans  of 
four  free  persons  of  color  engaged  in  circulating  "  Walker's 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  79 


Severe  enactments. — Severe  laws  necessary. 


Appeal,"  called  more  commonly  both  at  the  South  and  the 
North,  "  the  diabolical  Boston  pamphlet."  This  pamphlet 
was  calculated  to  endanger  the  lives  of  the  whole  white  popu 
lation  of  the  southern  country,  wherever  it  should  obtain  cir 
culation  among  the  blacks.  Even  in  Boston,  although  there 
was  no  law  which  took  cognizance  of  the  act,  the  municipal 
Judge  referred  to  that  publication  in  his  charge  at  the  open 
ing  of  the  next  court,  as  one  of  highly  reprehensible  character, 
and  he  regretted  that  the  laws  had  not  anticipated  the  offence. 
In  Georgia,  too,  about  the  same  time,  the  legislature  thought 
it  necessary  to  impose  a  quarantine  of  forty  days  on  all  ves 
sels  arriving  with  free  colored  persons  on  board,  and  to 
oblige  the  captains  of  such  vessels  to  carry  away  again  all 
such  persons  ;  and  they  also  enacted  that  the  circulation  of 
pamphlets  of  evil  tendency  among  domestics,  be  considered 
a  capital  offence.  The  same  law  makes  it  penal  to  teach 
free  persons  of  color,  or  slaves,  to  read  or  write,  and  pro 
hibits  the  introduction  of  slaves  into  the  state  for  sale.  These 
enactments  were  in  consequence  of  a  message  of  Gov.  Gil- 
mer,  founded  upon  a  pamphlet  of  dangerous  character  which 
was  found  to  be  in  circulation  in  Savannah.  Other  severe 
legislation  has  taken  place  from  time  to  time,  for  similar 
reasons.  It  is,  to  say  the  least,  truly  an  unfortunate  state  of 
things  which  requires  such  security.' 

'  Pa,  I  can  hardly  regard  any  one  as  a  good  citizen,  or 
considerate  man,  who  would  throw  these  publications,  as  so 
many  firebrands,  into  the  midst  of  a  slave  population.  I 
should  think  it  would  be  like  casting  coals  of  fire  into  a  ma 
gazine,'  said  Caroline. 

'  These  laws,'  Mr.  L.  further  remarked,  '  are  chiefly  of 
recent  date ;  and  it  was  to  be  hoped  that  the  causes  which 
led  to  their  adoption  and  seemed  to  render  them  necessary, 
would  cease  to  operate,  and  that  the  laws  would  be  altered 


80  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Dangerous  publications. — The  South  must  be  vigilant. 

or  repealed.  The  evil  complained  of,  however,  it  is  said, 
has  continued  to  exist,  and  that  too  accompanied  with  aggra 
vated  circumstances  which  have  led  to  renewed  and  more 
rigorous  legislation ;  whilst  also  appeals  have  been  made  by 
several  of  the  states  through  their  legislatures  to  the  non- 
slave-holding  states,  asking  them  to  legislate  on  the  subject, 
so  as  to  make  punishable  in  all  the  states  the  issuing  of  such 
publications  as  strike  at  the  peace  and  security  of  other  parts 
of  the  Union.  Congress  has  also  been  occupied  in  much 
unprofitable  discussion  growing  out  of  the  present  state  of 
things,  whilst  from  one  part  of  the  country,  petitions  have 
flowed  in  upon  the  two  houses  for  the  abolition  of  slavery  in 
the  District  of  Columbia ;  and  from  another,  efforts  have 
been  made  to  subject  the  Post-office  establishment  to  such 
regulations  that  a  supervisory  power  shall  exclude  from  the 
mails  all  publications  deemed  incendiary,  and  also  to  secure 
from  our  national  legislature  a  pledge  that  the  United  States 
has  no  authority  touching  the  question  of  slavery  even  with 
in  their  own  domain,  the  ten  miles  square  in  which  our  capi- 
tol  is  located.  The  greatest  circumspection  should,  doubt 
less,  be  observed  for  the  safety  of  the  South,  or  the  conse 
quence  of  remissness  on  their  part  will  be  the  sacrifice  of 
many  valuable  lives,  both  among  the  whites  who  may  be 
the  victims  of  an  insurrectionary  movement,  and  the  blacks 
who  would  fall  in  its  suppression.' 

'  Have  we  reason  to  suppose  that  an  insurrection  of  the 
negroes  at  the  South  will  ever  be  permanently  successful? 
It  was,  I  believe,  at  St.  Domingo  ?' 

*  It  cannot  be  attended  with  permanent  success,  so  long  as 
the  Union  endures.  Mr.  Clay  has  correctly  remarked,  "  It 
would  be  speedily  suppressed  by  the  all-powerful  means  of 
the  United  States ;  and,  it  would  be  the  madness  of  despair 
in  the  blacks  that  should  attempt  it.  But,  if  attempted  in 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  81 


The  South  must  be  vigilant. 


some  parts  of  the  United  States,  what  shocking  scenes  of 
carnage,  rapine,  and  lawless  violence  might  not  be  perpe 
trated  before  the  arrival  at  the  theatre  of  action  of  a  com 
petent  force  to  quell  it !  And  after  it  is  put  down,  what 
other  scenes  of  military  rigor  and  bloody  executions  to 
punish  the  insurgents,  and  impress  their  whole  race  with  the 
influence  of  example !" 

'The  necessity  of  keeping  the  blacks  in  ignorance,  it 
seems  to  me,  is  greatly  to  be  regretted.' 

'  It  is.  I  cannot  myself,  however,  believe  in  such  neces 
sity.  The  slave  and  the  free  should  both  be  instructed.  In 
what  way  instruction  should  be  given  may  be  a  matter  of  in 
quiry.  This  subject  may  be  regulated  according  to  what 
shall  appear  safest  and  most  equitable  in  respect  to  all  con 
cerned.  But  to  withhold  moral  and  religious  instruction 
from  any  human  being,  is  altogether  unjustifiable.  To  be 
stow  generally  that  instruction  also  which  prepares  for  the 
enjoyment  of  freedom,  I  think  is  both  duty  and  good  policy. 
If  the  slave  remain  a  slave,  I  cannot  think  that  entire  ignor 
ance  is  necessary;  and  if  he  is  ever  to  be  free,  it  is  certainly 
necessary  that  he  should  be  instructed.' 

'  I  think  I  have  heard  you  say,  Pa,  that  you  have  given 
instruction  to  slaves,  and  that  no  objection  was  made  by  their 
masters  ?' 

'  I  have.  I  do  not  mean  religious  and  moral  instruction 
only  either.  I  have  heard  a  slave  at  the  South  recite  from 
the  Latin  and  Greek  Classics.  That  slave  was  also  acquaint 
ed  with  the  Hebrew.  I  have  seen  negroes  at  the  South  ad 
mitted  to  equal  privileges  in  some  of  the  first  literary  insti 
tutions.  I  know  many  slave-holders  who  disclaim  the  idea 
that  it  is  necessary  to  keep  slaves  in  ignorance  ;  and  I  know 
not  a  few  benevolent  masters  and  mistresses,  who,  either  in 
person,  instruct  their  slaves,  or  cause  others  to  do  it  under 


82  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


Insurrectionary  attempts  ruinous  to  the  blacks. 


their  direction.  This,  it  is  true,  is  not  according  to  the  letter 
of  the  laws,  if  according  to  the  spirit  of  the  government  in  the 
slave-holding  states.  Jealousy  and  fear,  perhaps  I  ought  to 
say  common  prudence,  have  caused  severe  laws,  which  pre 
clude  the  instruction,  lawfully,  in  some  instances,  of  both 
bondman  and  colored  freeman.  Not  even  religious  and  moral 
instruction  is  to  be  given  except  under  certain  restrictions. 
But  I  believe  that  any  man  in  whom  the  community  may 
have  confidence,  might  pass  his  life  very  usefully  at  the 
South  in  the  instruction  of  negroes,  bond  and  free,  with  the 
entire  approbation  of  the  whites,  notwithstanding  all  present 
legal  enactments,  there  being  little  disposition  to  enforce  the 
letter  of  the  law  except  in  necessary  cases.* 

'  Of  what  use  then  are  the  enactments  ?' 

'  The  slave-holder,  perhaps,  will  tell  you  that  these  enact 
ments  enable  the  southern  community  of  whites  to  keep  the 
power  in  their  own  hands,  against  all  who  would  exert  a 
dangerous  influence ;  but  that  they  were  never  designed  to 
operate  except  as  a  preventive  of  insurrectionary  plans  and 
incentives.' 

'  You  think,  Sir,  that  the  laws  in  regard  to  blacks  in  the 
southern  states  would  be  of  a  very  different  character,  were 
it  not  for  the  indiscreet  measures  of  men  who,  professing  to 
befriend  the  slave,  endanger  the  safety  of  both  whites  and 
blacks,  in  their  hostility  to  slavery  ?' 

'  I  do ;  and  there  are  a  multitude  of  facts  to  which  I  might 
refer — facts  of  no  doubtful  character — in  support  of  that 
sentiment.  It  is  an  opinion  also  which  I  have  heard  ex 
pressed  by  intelligent  blacks  at  the  South,  who  generally 
most  heartily  deprecate  any  interference  in  their  concerns, 
by  citizens  of  non-slaveholding  States.  Their  situation  is 
made  extremely  trying  oftentimes  by  such  interference. 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  83 


Kindly  feelings  of  the  South. 


Still  I  would  by  no  means  impugn  the  motives  of  any  class 
of  the  true  friends  of  Africa.  Aspersions  are  often  cast,  no 
doubt  most  unjustly,  on  the  motives  of  a  portion  of  the  ad 
vocates  of  universal  emancipation.  Incendiaries  and  evil  dis 
posed  men  there  may  be  among  them  ;  but  indiscriminate 
censure  is  generally  wrong.' 

*  Why,  Pa,  do  not  the  slaveholding  States  unite,  and  rid 
themselves  of  the  evil  at  once  ?     I  am  sure  they  might  do 
better  than  continue  to  cherish  an  evil  so  fraught  with  danger 
and  solicitude.' 

*  My  daughter,  they  feel,  (and  I  have  no  doubt  that  under1 
existing  circumstances,  the  conviction  is  honest,)  that  they 
cannot  rid  themselves  of  the  evil  so  easily,  as  some  imagine. 
There  is,  the  southron  will  tell  you,  a  relation  between  the 
owner  of  slaves,  and  the  unhappy  beings  who  are  thrown 
upon  him,  which  is  far  more  complicated,  and  far  less  easily 
dissolved,  than  a  mind,  unacquainted  with  the  whole  subject 
in  all  its  bearings,  is  apt  to  suppose — a  relation  growing  out 
of  the  very  structure  of  society.     Go,  for  instance,  to  the 
slave-holder,  and  propose  to  him  to  emancipate  his  slaves. 
He  feels  the  evils  of  slavery  as  strongly,  and  probably  more 
so  than  you  can  feel  them — and  'who  will  say  that  he  has  not 
as  much  benevolence  in  his  heart  as  we  in  ours  ?     The  laws 
of  his  State,  framed  according  to  the  dictates  of  the  best 
judgment  of  legislators,  forbid  emancipation,  except  under 
certain  restrictions,  which  are  deemed  absolutely  necessary 
to  prevent  pauperism,   and  wretchedness,   and  crime,  and 
utter  ruin :  and  here  are  human  beings  dependant  on  him  for 
protection,  and  government,  and  support.     The  relation  he 
did  not  voluntarily  assume.   He  was  born  the  legal  proprietor 
of  his  slaves,  just  as  much  as  he  was  born  the  subject  of  civil 
government.    This  fact  is  often  sneered  at ;  but  it  is  fact  not 
withstanding.     And  it  is  his  duty,  and  a  duty  which  he  can 
not  well  avoid,  to  make  the  best  provision  for  them  in  his 


84  PLEA  FOR  AFRICA. 


Difficulties  of  emancipation. 


power.  Too  frequently,  it  would  be  just  as  humane  to 
throw  them  overboard  at  sea,  as  to  set  them  free  in  this 
country.  Moreover,  if  he  turn  them  out  to  shift  for  them 
selves,  he  turns  out  upon  the  community  those  who  in  all 
probability  will  become,  most  of  them,  vagabonds,  paupers, 
felons,  a  pest  to  society.  He  will  tell  you  that  as  a  Christian, 
as  a  patriot,  as  a  philanthropist,  as  an  honest  man,  and  hu 
mane  friend  of  the  blacks,  he  finds  insuperable  obstacles  to 
the  accomplishment  of  what  you  propose.  He  will  tell  you, 
perhaps,  that  it  is  "  a  consummation  devoutly  to  be  wished" 
Many,  I  believe,  are  precisely  of  this  state  of  mind. 

*  I  acknowledge  that  I  have  had  my  northern  prejudices  ; 
and  those  prejudices  were  strong — they  stirred  within  me 
indignation — and  almost  revenge.  But  I  would  now  indulge 
in  no  sweeping  anathema  against  the  South.  I  have  been, 
for  years,  in  a  situation  to  see  the  tremendous  evil  of  slavery 
as  it  is.  I  can  therefore  sympathize  with  the  slave-holder 
who  regrets  the  necessity  which,  in  a  measure,  compels  him 
to  hold  his  fellow-men  in  bondage,  whilst  at  the  same  time  I 
abhor  slavery  with  my  whole  heart.  I  can  bear  witness  also 
to  the  humanity  of  slave-holders  in  the  southern  states,  so 
far  as  my  acquaintance  and  observation  has  extended.  It  has 
far  exceeded  the  feeling  which  I  have  usually  found  indulg 
ed  towards  blacks,  in  my  native  New  England,  or  in  the 
Middle  States.  The  specimens  of  ill-treatment  of  slaves 
with  which  the  world  is  served  up,  now  and  then,  by  the 
issuing  of  a  new  edition  of  the  old  stereotype  form,  and 
which  seem  to  be  but  too  well  suited  to  the  taste  of  a  large 
portion  of  the  community,  are  a  wretched  caricature,  and  as 
unfair  specimens  of  the  general  treatment  which  slaves  re 
ceive,  as  would  be  the  assassination  and  murder  of  an  indi 
vidual  in  this  State,  held  up  as  a  sample  of  Philadelphia 
morals.  A  much  kindlier  feeling,  I  am  satisfied,  is  indulged 
towards  blacks  at  the  South,  than  at  the  North.' 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  85 


No  plea  for  slavery  in  the  abstract. 


CONVERSATION   IX. 


**  Frown  indignantly  on  the  first  dawnings  of  every  attempt  to  alienate  any 
portion  of  our  country  from  the  rest,  or  enfeeble  the  sacred  ties  which  now 
Jink  together  the  various  parts." — Washington. 

1  THERE  is  a  way,  Pa,'  said  Caroline,  the  conversation 
being  resumed,  *  which  some  people  have,  of  talking  of 
slaves  as  "property"  which  is  exceeding  grating  to  my 
ears,  and  at  which  my  mind  always  revolts/ 

*  As  to  that,  my  daughter,'  said  Mr.  L.,  'if  any  man  talks 
of  this  species  of  property  as  if  it  were  his  unqualified  right 
to  hold  his  fellow-men  in  bondage  without  any  regard  to  the 
circumstances  and  necessity  of  the  case,  the  whole  civilized 
world,  and  the  laws  of  Christian  nations,  which  have  pro 
nounced  the  slave  trade  to  be  piracy,  are  against  him.  It  is 
not  often  that  we  hear  any  man  attempt  to  justify  slavery  in 
the  abstract,  or  that  we  find  one  who  looks  upon  his  slaves 
in  precisely  the  same  light  in  which  most  people  regarded 
them  when  the  slave-trade  was  legitimate. 

'  There  are,  I  know,  exceptions  to  the  generally  correct 
and  Christian  sentiments  and  declarations  of  distinguished 
men  at  the  South  on  this  subject.  I  have  read  with  painful 
sensations  remarks  that  have  fallen  from  the  lips  of  some.  A 
Governor  of  South  Carolina,  in  a  message  to  the  Legislature 
of  that  State,  a  few  years  since,  says,  "  Slavery  is  not  a  na 
tional  evil ;  on  the  contrary  it  is  a  national  benefit.  *  *  * 
Slavery  exists  in  some  form  every  where,  and  it  is  not  of 
much  consequence,  in  a  philosophical  point  of  view,  whether 
it  be  voluntary,  or  involuntary"  A  Governor  of  the  same 


86  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Sentiments  of  Southern  men. 


State  has  recently  used  still  stronger  language  in  vindication 
of  slavery.  But  such  sentiments,  I  am  inclined  to  consider 
as  an  anomaly,  on  the  whole,  and  not  a  fair  representation  of 
the  views  of  the  South ;  much  less  can  they  receive  the  ap 
probation  of  the  American  people.  The  man  who  can  utter 
them  is  far  behind  the  age  in  which  we  live.  I  recollect  also 
an  address  delivered  in  South  Carolina,  a  few  years  since, 
by  one  of  her  distinguished  sons,  in  which  the  speaker  main* 
tained  that  slavery,  as  it  exists  in  the  southern  states,  is  "no 
greater,  or  more  unusual  evil,  than  befalls  the  poor  in  general ; 
that  its  extinction  would  be  attended  with  calamity  to  the 
country,  and  to  the  people  connected  with  it,  in  every  cha 
racter  and  relation  ;  that  no  necessity  exists  for  such  extinc 
tion  ;  that  slavery  is  sanctioned  by  the  Mosaic  dispensation  ) 
that  it  is  fulfilment  of  the  denunciation  pronounced  against 
the  second  son  of  Noah ;  that  it  is  not  inconsistent  with  the 
genius  and  spirit  of  Christianity  ;  nor  considered  by  St.  Paul 
as  a  moral  eviL"  I  have  also  noticed  the  recent  remarks 
upon  the  floors  of  Congress,  of  certain  southern  gentlemen  ; 
and  read  several  addresses  lately  delivered  in  various  slave- 
holding  states,  some  of  which  take  the  ground  that  slavery 
"  is  sanctioned  by  the  religion  of  the  Bible,"  as  well  as  jus 
tified  in  law ;  and  one  declares  "  solemnly  and  emphatically,'* 
that  "  if  any  man  at  the  South  makes  but  a  movement  towards 
emancipation — equal  or  partial — immediate  or  remote,  he  is 
faithless  to  the  duty  which  he  owes  to  his  state — faithless  to 
the  duty  which  he  owes  to  his  God." 

'  Another  specimen  of  southern  views  on  the  subject,  may 
be  found  in  a  debate  which  I  have  before  me,  that  occurred 
not  long  since  in  a  synod  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Vir 
ginia.  A  proposition  was  before  the  Synod  that  "  all  the  do 
mestic  relations,  (meaning  to  include  slavery,)  stand  upon 
precisely  the  same  ground  in  Scripture."  The  REV.  DR.  H« 
expressed  his  astonishment  at  the  views  presented.  He 


PLEA   FOR  AFRICA.  87 


Sentiments  of  Southern  men. 


"  could  not  agree  by  any  means,  that  the  relation  of  master 
and  slave  is  precisely  the  same  as  that  of  husband  and  wife. 
No,  nor  at  all  the  same.  The  one  is  a  natural  relation,  or 
dained  of  God,  and  sanctioned  by  Him  for  the  happiness  of 
man ;  but  the  other  had  its  origin  in  injustice  and  wrong  and 
is  never  sanctioned  in  the  Bible ;  unless  allusions  to  it  as  an 
existing  relation  and  a  tolerated  evil  are  so  misinterpreted. 
But  because  it  is  an  existing  relation,  does  it  follow  that  it 
has  a  basis  like  that  of  the  relation  of  husband  and  wife  ? 
God  forbid !  The  relations  differ  widely  and  essentially,  not 
only  in  their  nature,  but  also  in  the  fact  that  one  is  perma 
nent,  and  the  other  continues  only  by  the  strong  necessity  of 
the  case.  It  is  absurd  to  maintain  that  there  is  a  precise 
similarity  in  the  relations,  either  in  their  natural  basis,  or 
their  perpetuity.  I,  for  one,  cannot  consent  to  any  phrase 
ology  which  looks  that  way.  It  is  unscriptural  and  false. 
I  maintain  that  slavery  continues  only  by  necessity ;  and 

that  it  OUGHT  TO  BE  ABOLISHED  AS  SOON  AS  IT  CAN  BE,  CON 
SISTENTLY  WITH  THE  GOOD  OF  ALL  CONCERNED." 

*  The  REV.  DR.  B.,  who  is  a  distinguished  Professor  in 
the  Union  Theological  Seminary,  was  somewhat  opposed  to 
the  views  of  his  distinguished  friend.  He  "  denied  that  the 
relation  is  unlawful ;  it  is  recognized  by  Scripture.  The 
apostles  treated  it  as  a  relation  morally  right,  considering 
all  the  circumstances.  Nor  can  any  thing  be  done  to  coun 
teract  the  incendiary  efforts  of  fanaticism,  until  we  take 
scriptural  views  of  this  subject,  and  maintain  them  from 
Scripture.  It  is  also  impossible  to  do  much  for  the  extensive 
religious  instruction  of  the  slaves  themselves,  unless  they  are 
made  to  understand  that  their  masters  have  a  scriptural  right 
to  maintain  their  authority.  The  public  mind  seems  to  be 
much  shaken  upon  this  subject,  even  in  our  own  section  of 
country.  But  it  is  a  fact  established  by  Scripture,  that  the 
master  has  a  moral  right  to  retain  his  relation  to  his  slaves. 


88  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Sentiments  of  Southern  men. 


There  are,  however,  reciprocal  duties  for  each  to  perform, 
which  are  too  commonly  and  fearfully  neglected." 

1  Another  learned  DOCTOR  of  divinity,  the  President  of 
Hampden  Sidney  College,  did  "  not  think  it  necessary  to 
take  such  ground.  The  truth  is,  that  slavery  is  so  much  in 
volved  in  the  very  texture  of  society,  that  immediate  aboli 
tion  is  an  utter  impossibility.  Even  supposing  the  existing 
relation  to  be  sinful,  yet  the  abolitionists  are  so  wild  in  their 
mode  of  action,  that  they  never  can  succeed.  Nothing  can 
be  done  in  the  way  they  are  attempting.  They  do  not  seem 
to  consider  consequences  at  all,  or  to  reflect  that  the  subject 
has  intricate  relations,  and  many  troublesome  political  and 
social  bearings.  On  a  certain  occasion,  it  is  said,  an  eagle 
caught  up  an  innocent  lamb,  and  was  flying  off  with  its  prey 
in  the  air,  when  suddenly  the  intelligent  bird  was  convinced 
of  its  injustice;  and,  desirous  of  making  immediate  repara 
tion,  it  let  go  its  hold,  and  dashed  the  lamb's  brains  out ! 
Such  is  abolition  benevolence  !" 

'  The  REV.  MR.  L.  insisted  with  much  earnestness,  that  it 
was  "  necessary  to  take  the  ground  assumed  by  Dr.  B.,  and 
by  the  paper  read.  The  churches  expect  a  full  expression 
of  sentiment  on  the  part  of  pastors  ;  and  it  will  not  do  to  give 
the  subject  the  go  by,  in  the  way  intimated  by  the  last 
speaker.  It  is  not  enough  merely  to  denounce  the  abolition 
ists,  and  to  say  that  they  are  wrong.  We  ought  to  give  the 
reasons  of  our  difference  of  opinion,  and  to  let  them  know 
that  we  maintain  our  existing  relations  with  the  slaves,  be 
cause  the  Bible  gives  us  authority  to  do  it" 

'  The  REV.  MR.  S.  said,  "  the  paper  which  has  been  read 
goes  too  far.  It  extenuates  slavery,  and  leaves  false  im 
pressions  upon  the  mind.  I  justify  slavery,  not^from  Scrip 
ture,  but  from  circumstances.  Slavery  is  a  moral  evil,  and 
ought  to  be  done  away  as  soon  as  possible.  Better  con 
tend  for  immediate  emancipation,  than  for  perpetual  servi- 


PLEA   FOR  AFRICA.  89 

Sentiments  of  Southern  men. 

tude.  The  actual  degraded  condition  of  the  African  race  is 
the  only  reason  why  slavery  ought  not  to  be  abolished  this 
very  hour.  Ethiopia  must  one  day  stretch  forth  her  hands 
unto  the  Lord,  and  my  prayer  is,  that  that  time  may  speedily 
come!  Life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness,  are  the 
right  of  all ;  and  can  only  be  taken  away  by  the  claims  of  a 
harsh  and  stern  necessity.  Something  ought  to  be  done  at 
once,  and  effectually,  for  the  amelioration  of  the  condition  of 
the  slaves.  But  let  not  this  Synod,  even  in  appearance, 
assume  principles  which  justify  the  perpetuity  of  slavery." 

*  The  REV.  MR.  W.  said,  "  that  to  his  mind  two  things 
were  perfectly  clear:  1st.  The  relation  of  master  and  slave 
is  justified  by  Scripture.  The  Holy  Spirit  has  marked  out 
the  existence  of  that  relation.  2d.  Our  Saviour  and  his 
apostles  never  intended  to  interfere  with  the  civil  relations 
of  society,  except  by  the  silent  influence  of  religion  upon 
the  heart  and  life.  Whenever  an  attempt  has  been  made  to 
force  mankind,  in  anticipation  of  the  preparation  which  can 
only  be  effected  by  the  gospel,  harm  has  always  been  done- 
I  cannot  but  think  that  the  views  expressed  in  the  paper  are, 
in  the  main,  correct." 

'The  REV.  MR.  T.,  another  Professor  in  the  Theologi 
cal  Seminary,  would  "  never  interfere  in  a  political  way 
with  any  matter ;  but  would  touch  the  subject  in  a  scrip 
tural  way.  This  is  a  Bible  question.  Slavery  has  bearings 
upon  very  important  actual  duties  in  life,  for  which  the  Bible 
provides.  The  ultimate  influence  of  the  gospel  will  change 
the  order  of  society ;  but  it  will  be  only  when  all  parties 
are  willing  that  the  change  should  take  place,  and  then  who 
will  complain  ?  The  Bible  has  power  to  break  every  un 
holy  bond,  and  to  set  every  thing  right  in  society.  If  any 
think  slavery  will  be  eternal,  I  differ  very  much  from  them. 
Nor  does  the  paper,  which  has  been  read,  contain  any  senti 
ment  implying  a  desire  to  perpetuate  slavery" 

G  2 


90  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


Sentiments  of  Southern  men. 


'  The  REV.  MR.  A.,  now  one  of  the  Secretaries  of  the 
American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions, 
believed  "  that  rash  and  bold  assertions  have  unsettled  the 
minds  of  many  Christians  in  reference  to  slavery."  He  was 
for  adopting  a  circular  letter,  giving  a  scriptural  view  of  the 
subject.  "  The  Bible,  no  doubt,  tolerates  the  existing  re 
lation,  in  view  of  the  circumstances  of  the  case." 

1  W.  M.  ESQ.,  a  distinguished  lawyer,  and  elder  of  the 
church,  remarked  that  he  was  "  by  no  means  satisfied  with 
the  spirit  and  principles  of  the  paper.  To  say  that  slavery 
stands  upon  precisely  the  same  ground  with  the  other  social 
relations,  is  to  my  mind  very  far  from  being  precisely 
true." 

'  "Such  views  leave  the  impression  that  slavery  may  con 
tinue  an  indefinite  period,  without  sin.  For  if  the  Bible  sanc 
tions  it,  the  thing  is  morally  right ;  and  if  morally  right,  we 
are  under  no  obligations  to  remove  it.  But  is  this  scripture? 
Must  we  sit  still,  and  do  nothing  for  the  removal  of  this  cry 
ing  evil  ?  Must  we  wait  for  some  miraculous  interposition 
of  divine  agency  ?  With  the  Bible  in  our  hands,  no  one 
can  doubt  that  slavery  is  inconsistent  with  its  spirit  and  its 
precepts ;  and  we  are  bound,  therefore,  to  aim  at  emancipa 
tion.  Lord  Chatham  once  said,  that  he  would  never  come 
into  parliament,  with  the  statute  book  doubled  down  with 
dog's  ears  to  prove  that  liberty  was  the  birth-right  of  British 
subjects.  Nor  will  I,  cried  Mr.  Maxwell,  come  into  this 
Synod,  with  my  Bible  doubled  doivn  in  dog's  ears,  to  prove 
that  slavery  is  wrong.  No,  sir,  I  will  not  undertake  such  a 
work  of  supererogation  !  One  need  read  but  the  first  chap 
ter  in  the  word  of  God  to  be  convinced  that  slavery  is  wrong. 
How  was  man  created  ?  With  dominion  over  the  soul  and 
body  of  his  fellow-man  ?  No  !  There  was  no  slavery  in 
Eden.  Nor  would  there  have  been  any  to  curse  the  earth, 
unless  Satan  had  prevailed  in  the  temptation.  It  is  prepos- 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  91 


Sentiments  of  Southern  men. 


terous  to  go  to  the  Bible  to  defend  slavery.  Its  universal 
spirit  is  against  the  institution,  gloriously  against  it !  But  some 
have  said,  that  although  slavery  is  wrong  in  the  abstract,  yet 
circumstances  have  made  it  morally  right.  This  phraseolo 
gy,  Sir,  I  object  to.  That  which  is  once  wrong,  can  never 
become  morally  right.  It  never  can  become  right  in  such  a 
sense  as  releases  us  from  obligations  to  attempt  the  removal 
of  the  original  evil.  It  never  can  become  morally  right,  in 
the  common  acceptation  of  the  phrase.  The  most  we  can 
say  of  it  is,  that  it  may  be  tolerated  on  account  of  an  impe 
rious  and  dreadful  necessity.  To  say  that  slavery  is  moral 
ly  right,  would  be  a  virtual  abrogation  of  the  law  of  love. 
Yet,  whilst  I  deny  that  slavery  can  be  said  to  be  morally 
right,  I  maintain  the  existence  of  a  necessity,  which  palliates, 
under  the  circumstances,  the  temporary  continuance  of  the 
relation.  But  mark  !  I  found  my  position  not  on  Scripture, 
nor  on  the  moral  lawfulness  of  slavery ;  but  simply  on  the 
fact  of  a  necessity.  To  illustrate  my  idea  :  Killing  a  man 
in  the  abstract  is  wrong,  just  as  slavery  is.  And  yet  I  may 
kill  a  man  in  a  particular  case  of  self-defence.  Circum 
stances  justify  me ;  self-preservation  is  a  valid  plea.  And 
yet  I  may  wilfully  kill  no  man,  if  I  can  avoid  it.  I  am 
bound  to  use  every  means  to  release  myself  from  the  neces 
sity  of  taking  the  life  of  a  human  being.  So  it  is  with 
slavery.  I  have  no  right  before  God  or  men  to  keep  my 
fellow  man  in  bondage,  except  in  view  of  the  peculiar  exi 
gency.  I  may  not  rest  satisfied  while  he  is  deprived  of  his 
liberty.  I  am  bound  to  make  every  effort  for  his  deliver 
ance  ;  and  unless  I  do  my  best  to  get  rid  of  the  necessity,  I 
am  guilty  of  the  sin  of  unjustifiable  slavery — just  as  much 
as  in  other  circumstances,  I  would  be  guilty  of  unjustifiable 
homicide.  But  if  I  am  aiming  at  emancipation,  and  doing 
that  which  is  'just  and  right'  to  my  slaves,  I  may,  during 
the  interval  preserve  my  authority  over  them.  It  is  the  die- 


92  PLEA   FOR    AFRICA. 


Sentiments  of  Southern  men. 


tate  of  self-preservation,  as  well  as  the  impulse  of  benevo 
lence,  to  do  so. 

'  '*  We  must  try  to  get  rid  of  slavery.  We  have  no  right 
to  cling  to  our  slaves,  under  the  delusion  that  the  Scripture 
justifies  the  system  as  morally  right.  By  colonization  we 
can  rescue  many  from  their  servile  degradation.  And  if  any 
other  rational  plan  of  emancipation  is  practicable,  we  are 
under  obligations  which  no  man  may  disregard  with  impu 
nity,  to  embrace  the  occasion,  and  let  the  oppressed  go  free. 
In  regard  to  immediate  abolition,"  said  Mr.  M.,  "  but  one 
single  opinion  can  flash  through  the  minds  of  this  assem 
bly.  It  is  a  scheme  of  destruction  and  ruin.  It  is  casting 
off  the  slave  to  let  him  sink.  It  is  adding  death  to  injustice, 
murder  to  oppression.  God  forbid  that  we  should  add  this 
to  our  sins  !  But  whilst  I  condemn  the  immediate  abolition 
scheme,  I  cannot  sanction  the  principles  contained  in  the 
paper  which  has  led  to  this  discussion.  Such  principles,  in 
stead  of  tranquillizing  Christians,  would  only  disturb  them 
the  more  ;  because  their  consciences  will  not  stay  tranquil 
lized.  SLAVERY  is  ABHORRENT  TO  THE  ENLIGHTENED  CON 
SCIENCE,  and  all  efforts  to  give  it  false  peace,  would,  in  the 
end,  only  increase  its  agitations.  I  am  satisfied  that  Southern 
Christians  will  not  receive  such  principles ;  let  not  the 
Synod  of  this  ancient  commonwealth  sanction  any  principles 
which  seem  to  justify  slavery,  especially  from  Scripture. 
Let  us  tell  the  world  that  we  abhor  the  system,  and  only 
justify  its  continuance  amongst  us  by  an  imperious  neces 
sity,  which  our  feeble  hands  cannot  now  control.  God  for 
bid  that  we  should  assume  a  position,  favorable  even  in  ap 
pearance,  to  the  perpetuity  of  human  bondage  !" 

'  I  have  thus  occupied  your  attention  by  this  debate  at  some 
length,  because  I  think  it  but  a  fair  expression  of  southern 
views  and  feelings  generally  on  the  subject  of  slavery.  I 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  93 


Sentiments  of  Southern  men. 


need  hardly  say  that  the  proposition  which  gave  rise  to  the 
debate  was  rejected. 

1  There  are,  it  is  to  be  supposed,  some  whose  rashness  is 
greater  than  their  judgment,  who  recklessly  assert  principles 
which  would  find  few  advocates  among  the  virtuous  or  consi 
derate  any  where  ;  but  I  am  persuaded  that  there  is  a  more 
correct  sentiment  prevailing  at  the  South  among  the  enlight 
ened  and  influential  part  of  the  community  than  is  generally 
supposed,  and  perhaps  than  might  be  inferred  from  this  de 
bate.  Otherwise,  we  might  have  less  hope  for  the  slave ; 
greater  fear  for  our  country  :  and  be  led  to  endorse  in  despair 
the  words  of  the  poet, 

"  Yet,  yet,  degraded  men  !  the  expected  day 
That  breaks  your  bitter  cup  is  far  away  ; 
Trade,  wealth,  and  fashion,  ask  you  still  to  bleed, 
And  holy  men  give  Scripture  for  the  deed." 

1  But  to  show  what  have  been  the  sentiments  of  the  South 
on  this  subject,  still  more  clearly,  and  what  are  the  views 
which,  we  may  expect,  still  prevail,  I  will  also  refer  to  other 
instances. 

*  Says  one  who  has  stood  high  in  public  confidence  at 
the  South,  "  Almost  all  masters  in  VIRGINIA  assent  to  the 
proposition,  that  when  the  slaves  can  be  liberated  without 
danger  to  themselves,  and  to  their  own  advantage^  IT 
OUGHT  TO  BE  DONE."  He  adds,  "  If  there  are  few  who  think 
otherwise  in  Virginia,  I  feel  assured  there  are  few  such  any 
where  at  the  South." 

'  It  was  the  language  of  PATRICK  HENRY,  "  It  would  re 
joice  my  very  soul,  that  every  one  of  my  fellow-beings  was 
emancipated.  As  we  ought,  with  gratitude,  to  admire  that 
decree  of  heaven  which  has  numbered  us  among  the  free,  we 
ought  to  lament  and  deplore  the  necessity  of  holding  our  fel 
low-men  in  bondage." 

'  Said  ZACHARIAH  JOHNSON,  in  the  same  debate  before  the 


94  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Views  and  feelings  of  distinguished  Southrons. 


legislature  of  Virginia,  when  the  distinguished  Patrick 
Henry  uttered  the  above, — "  Slavery  has  been  the  founda 
tion  of  that  impiety,  and  dissipation,  which  have  been  so 
much  disseminated  among  our  countrymen.  If  it  were  to 
tally  abolished,  it  would  do  much  good.  *  *  The  princi 
ple  (of  emancipation)  has  begun,  since  the  Revolution  ;  let  us 
do  what  we  will,  it  will  come  round." 

4  Gov.  RANDOLPH,  in  the  same  debate,  approved  the  hope 
"  that  those  unfortunate  men,  held  in  bondage,  might,  by  the 
operation  of  the  general  government,  be  made  free." 

'  JUDGE  TUCKER,  in  1795,  wrote — "  The  introduction  of 
slavery  into  this  country,  is,  at  this  day,  considered  among 
its  greatest  misfortunes."  In  1803  he  wrote — "  Will  not 
our  posterity  execrate  the  memory  of  those  ancestors,  who, 
having  it  in  their  power  to  avert  evil,  have,  like  their 
first  parents,  entailed  a  curse  upon  all  future  generations  ? 
What  a  blood-stained  code  that  must  be,  which  is  calculated 
for  the  restraint  of  millions  held  in  bondage.  Such  must 
our  unhappy  country  exhibit,  unless  we  are  both  wise  and 
just  enough  to  avert  from  posterity  the  calamity  and  reproach 
which  are  otherwise  unavoidable." 

*  GEN.  WASHINGTON,  in  a  letter  to  Robert  Morris,  dated 
April  12,  1786,  says  "  There  is  not  a  man  living,  who 
wishes  more  sincerely  than  I  do,  to  see  a  plan  adopted  for 
the  abolition  of  slavery ;  but  there  is  only  one  proper  and 
effectual  mode  by  which  it  can  be  accomplished,  and  that  is 
by  legislative  authority  ;  and  this,  as  far  as  my  suffrage  will 
go,  shall  never  be  wanting,"  Again,  in  a  letter  to  the  Mar 
quis  de  La  Fayette,  May  10,  1786,  he  writes,  "  The  bene 
volence  of  your  heart,  my  dear  Marquis,  is  so  conspicuous 
on  all  occasions,  that  I  never  wonder  at  any  fresh  proofs  of 
it ;  but  your  late  purchase  of  an  estate  in  the  colony  of 
Cayenne,  with  a  view  of  emancipating  the  slaves  on  it,  is  a 
generous  and  noble  proof  of  your  humanity.  Would  to  God 


PLEA   FOft  AFRICA.  95 


Southern  views. 


a  like  spirit  might  diffuse  itself  generally  into  the  minds  of 
the  people  of  this  country.  *  *  Some  petitions  were  pre* 
sented  to  the  assembly,  at  its  last  session,  for  the  abolition 
of  slavery,  but  they  could  scarcely  obtain  a  reading.  To 
set  the  slaves  afloat  at  once  would,  I  really  believe,  be  pro 
ductive  of  much  inconvenience  and  mischief ;  but,  by  de 
grees,  it  certainly  might,  and  assuredly  ought,  to  be  effected  ; 
and  that  too  by  legislative  authority."  Again,  in  a  letter  to 
John  F.  Mercer,  September  9,  1786,  **  I  never  mean,  un 
less  some  particular  circumstance  should  compel  me  to  it,  to 
possess  another  slave  by  purchase,  it  being  among  my  first 
wishes  to  see  some  plan  adopted,  by  which  slavery  in  this 
country  may  be  abolished  by  law." 

'  Mr.  JEFFERSON  asks,  "  Can  the  liberties  of  a  nation  be 
thought  secure,  when  we  have  removed  their  only  firm  basis, 
a  conviction  in  the  minds  of  the  people,  that  their  liberties 
are  the  gift  of  God  ?" 

1  JUDGE  WASHINGTON,  in  a  speech  before  the  Colonization 
Society,  expressed  the  decided  hope  that  colonization  "  would 
lead  to  the  slow,  but  gradual  abolition  of  slavery,"  and 
"  wipe  from  our  political  institutions,  the  only  blot  which 
stains  them." 

'  GEN.  HARPER  has  spoken  of  slavery  as  "  a  great  moral 
and  political  evil,  of  increasing  virulence  and  extent,  from 
which  much  mischief  is  now  felt,  and  very  great  calamity  in 
future,  is  justly  apprehended." 

*  GEN.  MERCER  remarks,  "  The  hope  of  the  gradual  and 
utter  abolition  of  slavery,  in  a  manner  consistent  with  the 
rights,  interests,  and  happiness  of  society,  ought  never  to  be 
abandoned." 

*  W.  H.  FITZHUGH,  ESQ.,  who  proved  the  sincerity  of  his 
remarks,  by  the  prospective  liberation  of  all  his  slaves,  and  a 
liberal  provision  for  them  in  Liberia,  bears  this  testimony— 
"  Slavery,  in  its  mildest  form,  is  an  evil  of  the  darkest  cha- 


96  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Southern  views. 


racter.  Cruel  and  unnatural  in  its  origin,  no  plea  can  be 
urged  in  justification  of  its  continuance  but  the  plea  of  ne 
cessity — the  necessity  which  requires  us  to  submit  to  exist 
ing  evils,  rather  than  substitute  by  their  removal,  others  of  a 
more  serious  and  destructive  character.  There  is  no  rivetted 
attachment  to  slavery  prevailing  extensively,  in  any  portion 
of  our  country.  Its  injurious  effects  on  our  habits,  our 
morals,  our  individual  wealth,  and  more  especially  on  our 
national  strength  and  prosperity,  are  universally  felt,  and  al 
most  universally  acknowledged." 

*  WILLIAM  G ASTON,  of  North  Carolina,  formerly  a  distin 
guished  member  of  Congress,  and  now  on  the  bench  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  that  State,  in  an  address  before  a  literary 
and  philanthropic  society  in  the  University  of  North  Caro 
lina,  in  1832,  says — ««  On  you  will  devolve  the  duty  which 
has  been  too  long  neglected,  but  which  cannot  with  impunity 
be  neglected  much  longer,  of  providing  for  the  mitigation, 
and,  is  it  too  much  to  hope  for  in  North  Carolina  ?  for  the 
ultimate  extirpation  of  the  worst  evil  that  afflicts  the  southern 
part  of  our  confederacy.     *     *     Disguise  the  truth  as  we 
may,   and  throw  the   blame  where   we  will,  it  is  slavery 
which,  more  than  any  other  cause,  keeps  us  back  in  the  ca 
reer  of  improvement."     *     *     "How  this  evil  is  to  be  en 
countered,  how  subdued,  is  indeed  a  difficult  and  delicate  in 
quiry." 

*  Col.  DRAYTON,  of  South  Carolina,  in  the  course  of  an 
elaborate  speech  in  Congress,  not  long  since,  sketched  a  pic 
ture  of  slavery,  and  a  brief  of  the  views  of  the  South,  which 
was  reported  in  the  words  following.     Col.  Drayton  was 
ever  regarded  as  not  only  a  man  of  distinguished  talents,  but 
as  remarkable  for  his  candor,  excellent  judgment,  and  honor 
able  feelings.     "  There  was  not  a  person  who  more  deeply 
commiserated  slaves  than  he  did ;  but  while  their  pillows  are 
planted  with  thorns,  their  masters  do  not  repose  on  downy 


A   FOR   AFRICA. 


Misrepresentations  and  unkind  remarks. 


beds.  The  miseries  extended  to  the  whole  circle  of  society 
in  which  they  move.  He  spoke  from  actual  experience  of 
these  miseries.  Could  he  destroy  the  evil,  no  zealous  fanatic 
would  more  easily  try  to  extirpate  it  than  his  fellow-citizens 
of  the  South  and  himself.  None  know  more  the  misery  of 
slavery  than  those  who  hold  slaves.  Slavery  is  indeed  a 
bitter  draught,  and  though  thousands  are  made  to  drink  of  it, 
yet  still  it  is  a  bitter  draught.  Such  are  the  peculiar  habits 
of  slaves,  that  they  will  enjoy  the  song  and  the  dance,  and 
spend  the  night  in  revelry  and  feasting,  while  the  master  is 
stretched  on  a  sleepless  couch.  Would  one  feeling  thus 
wish  to  perpetuate  the  evil !  Let  not  such  a  mistake  prevail. 
It  is  the  interest  of  the  master  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of 
the  slaves  as  much  as  he  can  ;  and  those  mistaken  philanthro 
pists  who,  without  understanding  the  situation  of  that  part  of 
the  country,  intrude  their  efforts  at  amelioration,  only  make 
the  condition  of  the  slave  more  wretched.  No  one  can  ad 
minister  successfully  to  a  disease  who  is  ignorant  of  its  cha 
racter.  No  one  can  beneficially  prescribe,  who  is  ignorant 
of  the  effect  of  the  medicine  he  administers.  The  citizens  of 
the  South  know  how  far  to  go  with  safety  to  themselves,  and 
he  who  ignorantly  interferes,  converts  intended  benefits  into 
serious  injuries.  The  southern  citizens  know,  but  they  suffer 
none  others  to  interfere.  Interference  they  consider  as  an 
injury,  and  are  disposed  to  resent  it  as  an  insult.  When 
gentlemen  talk  of  government  having  a  right  to  interfere, 
they  speak  without  proper  consideration." 

1  Such  are  the  opinions  of  gentlemen  of  eminent  talents,  all 
of  whom  are,  or  were,  of  the  South  ;  most  of  whom,  if  not 
all,  have  been  extensive  proprietors  of  slaves.  I  may  here 
also  quote  the  sentiments  and  words  of  that  distinguished 
son  of  the  West,  and  brilliant  statesman,  HENRY  CLAY.  He 
says,  "  There  are  two  extremes  of  opinion  on  this  subject, 

H 


98  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Severity  of  remark  unwise. 


in  neither  of  which  do  I  concur.  The  first  is  that  of  those 
who  regard  slavery  as  no  evil,  but  a  good.  I  consider  slavery 
as  a  curse — a  curse  to  the  master,  a  wrong,  a  grievous  wrong 
to  the  slave.  In  the  abstract,  it  is  all  wrong ;  and  no  possible 
contingency  can  make  it  right.  It  is  condemned  by  all  our 
notions  of  natural  justice,  and  our  maxims  of  natural  political 
equality  among  men.  Necessity,  a  stern  political  necessity 
alone,  can  excuse  or  justify  it;  a  necessity  arising  from  the 
fact  that  to  give  freedom  to  our  slaves  that  they  might  remain 
with  us,  would  be  doing  them  an  injury  rather  than  a  bene 
fit — would  render  their  condition  worse  than  it  is  at  present." 
'  It  certainly  becomes  us  to  be  open  to  conviction,  and 
willing  to  receive  the  truth.  It  is  a  great  misfortune,  grow 
ing  out  of  the  actual  condition  of  the  several  states,  some 
being  exempt  from,  and  others  liable  to,  the  evils  of  slavery, 
that  they  are  too  prone  to  misrepresent  the  views  and  wishes 
of  each  other  in  respect  to  it.* 

« In  some  publications,  Pa,'  said  Caroline,  *  which  Henry 
and  I  have  been  looking  over  since  these  conversations  began, 
we  have  seen  some  very  unkind  remarks  respecting  the 
South,  calculated  to  wound  the  feelings  of  her  citizens  deep 
ly,  and  exceeding  severe  on  some  of  the  gentlemen  whose 
language  you  have  quoted.  In  a  certain  paper,  the  writer, 
having  selected  certain  passages  from  the  writings  of  such 
men  as  Mr.  Clay,  Gen.  Harper,  Gen.  Mercer,  Mr.  Harrison, 
President  Caldwell,  and  others,  exclaims — "  Ye  crafty  cal 
culators  !  ye  hard-hearted,  incorrigible  sinners  !  ye  greedy 
and  relentless  robbers!  ye  contemners  of  justice  and  mercy! 
ye  trembling,  pitiful,  pale-faced  usurpers  !  my  soul  spurns 
you  with  unspeakable  disgust"  I  cannot  think  that  good 
men,  even,  among  abolitionists,  can  approve  of  this  lan 
guage  V 

*  Such  severity  of  denunciation  against  those  who  are 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  99 


Introduction  of  slavery. 


among  the  wisest  and  best  men  of  the  country,'  remarked 
Mr.  L.,  *  is  wrong,  very  wrong  ;  and  I  cannot  think  it  is  ap 
proved  by  any  considerable  portion  of  the  community.  The 
writer  is  deserving  of  reprehension.  His  course  will  rivet 
the  chains  of  slavery,  not  loose  them.  It  were  well  for  our 
country,  and  better  for  our  colored  population,  especially  for 
the  slaves,  if,  in  regard  to  this  whole  matter,  every  citizen 
were  to  cherish  kindly  and  charitable  feelings.  The  last 
advice  of  our  illustrious  Washington  was,  "  FROWN  INDIG 
NANTLY  ON  THE  FIRST  DAWNINGS  OF  EVERY  ATTEMPT  TO  ALI 
ENATE  ANY  PORTION  OF  OUR  COUNTRY  FROM  THE  REST,  OR 
ENFEEBLE  THE  SACRED  TIES  WHICH  NOW  LINK  TOGETHER  THE 


CONVERSATION    X. 

"  We  determined  not  to  suffer  slavery  there ;  but  the  slave  merchants  and 
their  adherents  occasioned  us  not  only  much  trouble,  but  at  last  got  the  then 
government  to  sanction  them.  We  would  not  suffer  slavery,  (which  is 
against  the  gospel,  as  well  as  the  fundamental  law  of  England,)  to  be  au 
thorized  under  our  authority;  we  refused,  as  trustees,  to  make  a  law  permit- 
ting  such  a  horrid  crime.  The  government,  finding  the  trustees  resolved 
firmly  not  to  concur  with  what  they  thought  unjust,  took  away  the  charter 
by  which  no  law  could  be  passed  without  our  consent." — Ogletkorpe. 

'  GOOD  morning,  my  daughter — good  morning,  Henry,' 
said  Mr.  L.,  as  he  entered  the  parlor,  quite  early  in  the  morn 
ing,  *  shall  we  now,  although  earlier  than  our  usual  hour  for 
conversation,  turn  our  attention  again,  for  a  few  minutes,  to 
the  subject  of  Africa's  wrongs,  and  the  unfortunate  relation 
to  her  children,  into  which  our  country  has  been  introduced 
by  the  policy  of  England,  and  the  cupidity  of  her  traders  in 
human  flesh  ?  I  think  we  shall  have  an  hour  before  the  time 
for  family  prayer.* 


100  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Virginia  opposed  to  slavery. 


Caroline  and  Henry  were  both  pleased  with  the  proposi 
tion.  *  Will  you  tell  us,  Pa,'  said  C.,  «  at  what  time  slaves 
were  first  brought  to  this  country,  and  where  they  were  sold. 
I  shall  be  gratified  to  be  more  familiar  with  the  facts  that  as 
sure  us  that  our  country  is  not  responsible  for  the  original 
introduction  of  slavery  to  the  western  world.' 

« It  will  give  me  pleasure  to  gratify  your  wishes  in  this 
respect.  The  first  shipment  of  slaves  to  our  country,  was 
on  the  very  year  that  the  "  Pilgrim  fathers'*  of  New  England, 
as  the  first  settlers  of  New  England  are  called,  first  stepped 
upon  Plymouth  Rock,  and  thirteen  years  after  the  first  set 
tlement  on  the  James  river.  The  "  cargo  t"  was  landed  at 
Jamestown,  and  sold  to  the  planters  of  Virginia.  It  consisted 
of  twenty  Africans  from  the  coast  of  Guinea,  brought  to  the 
colony  in  a  Dutch  vessel,  under  the  sanction  and  by  the  au 
thority  of  British  laws.  Although  by  the  purchase  of  these 
and  other  slaves  which  soon  followed,  individuals  lent  them 
selves  to  the  oppression  of  Africa's  unhappy  children,  it  is 
due  to  the  colonial  ancestry  of  Virginia  to  say  that  they,  at  a 
very  early  period,  earnestly  remonstrated  against  these  im 
portations.  Their  appeals  to  the  British  crown,  were  loud 
and  frequent,  but  unsuccessful.  They  had  no  voice  in  the 
government  under  whose  laws  slavery  was  introduced,  and 
no  control  over  its  decisions.  Therefore  I  have  said  that  we 
are  not  responsible,  as  a  nation,  for  the  introduction  of  the 
trade.  The  origin  of  slavery  in  our  land  is  to  be  referred  to 
the  agency  of  a  foreign  government,  and  the  evil  of  slavery 
considered  as  an  incumbrance  connected  with  our  English 
inheritance.  It  should  be  mentioned  also  to  the  credit  of 
Virginia,  that  the  legislature  of  that  colony,  at  an  early  pe 
riod,  enacted  laws  to  counteract  the  evil,  by  imposing  re 
strictions  on  the  introduction  of  slaves  ;  and  that  it  is,  at  the 
same  time,  a  matter  of  history  by  no  means  honorable  to  the 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  101 


The  first  Slave-ship. 


mother  country,  that  those  measures  of  the  colony  were  dis 
countenanced,  and  the  laws  which  the  legislature  enacted, 
rejected  by  government  as  injurious  to  the  commerce  of 
England.  Thus  slavery,  with  all  its  unhappy  consequences, 
was  entailed  upon  the  colonies  to  promote  the  supposed  in 
terests  of  England.  It  should  be  understood,  moreover,  that 
this  very  conduct  of  the  British  crown  is  a  grievance  set  forth 
in  the  Declaration  of  our  Independence  among  the  causes  of 
the  Revolution.' 

'  Do  you  recollect,  Caroline,'  said  Henry,  '  those  lines  by 
Mrs.  Sigourney,  entitled  The  First  Slave-ship  ?' 

*  I  do  not ;  but  I  should  like  to  hear  them.  I  admire 
Mrs.  S.'s  poetical  genius  ;  and  take  the  more  interest  in  every 
thing  from  her  pen  since  she  is  the  acquaintance  and  very 
esteemed  friend  of  our  dear  mother.' 

"  First  of  that  race  which  curst  the  wave, 

And  from  his  rifled  cabin  bore, 
Inheritor  of  wo,  the  slave 

To  bless  his  palm-tree's  shade  no  more  ! 

Dire  engine  !  o'er  the  trouble  main 

Borne  on  in  unresisted  state, 
Know'st  thou  within  thy  dark  domain, 

The  horrors  of  thy  prison'd  freight? 

The  fetter'd  chieftain's  burning  tear, 

The  parted  lovers'  mute  despair, 
The  childless  mother's  pang  severe, 

The  orphan's  agony,  are  there. 

Hear'st  thou  their  moans  whom  hope  has  fled., 

Wild  cries  and  agonizing  starts  ? 
Know'st  thou  thy  hurried  sails  are  spread 

With  ceaseless  sighs  from  breaking  hearts  ? 

Oh  !  could'st  thou  from  the  scroll  of  fate 

The  miseries  read  of  future  years* 
Stripes,  tortures,  unrelenting  hate. 

And  death-gasps  drown'd  in  ceaseless  tears ; 
H2 


102  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 

Early  date  of  slavery  in  Africa. 

Down,  down,  beneath  the  cleaving  main 
Thou  fain  would'st  plunge  where  monsters  lie, 

Rather  than  ope  the  gates  of  pain 
For  time,  and  for  eternity. 

Oh  Afric' !  what  has  been  thy  crime, 

That  thus  like  Eden's  fratricide, 
A  mark  is  set  upon  thy  clime, 

And  every  brother  shuns  thy  side  \ 

Yet  are  thy  wrongs,  thou  long  distrest, 

Thy  burden  by  the  world  unweigh'd, 
Safe  in  that  UNFORGETFUL  BREAST, 

Where  all  the  sins  of  earth  are  laid. 

The  sun  upon  thy  forehead  frown'd, 

But  man,  more  cruel  far  than  he, 
Dark  fetters  on  thy  spirit  bound ; 

Look  to  the  mansion  of  the  free  t 

Look  up,  to  realms  where  chains  unbind, 
Where  powerless  falls  the  threatening  rod, 

And  where  the  patient  sufferers  find 
A  Friend — a  FATHER  in  their  GOD." 

'  Oh  !  it  makes  my  heart  bleed,'  said  Caroline,  '  to  think 
of  the  evils  of  which  that  first  slave-ship  was  the  precursor 
to  our  country ;  and  of  the  wrongs  which  from  that  ill-fated 
hour  that  the  cruel  Dutchman  found  a  market  for  his  injured 
fellow-men,  have  been  so  unsparingly  meted  out  to  Africa 
by  citizens  of  this  highly-favored  land.  How  I  wish  the 
purchase  had  never  been  made.' 

'  Were  the  Dutch  the  first  people  who  engaged  in  the 
traffic,  Pa  ?' 

1  No,  Henry,  slavery  existed  in  Africa,  long  before  the 
transportation  of  slaves  from  Africa  to  this  or  to  any  coun- 
try.' 

*  It  was  in  Africa  that  Joseph  became  the  slave  of  Poti- 
phar;  and  the  Egyptians,  you  know,  Henry,  enslaved 
Israel,'  said  Caroline.  '  When  I  think  of  these  things,  the 


FLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  103 


Foreign  traffic  in  slaves. 


thought  occurs  sometimes,  that  it  is  possible  that  Africans 
may  again  have  their  day  of  prosperity,  and  the  whites,  who 
are  now  their  oppressors,  may  in  their  turn  become  slaves.' 

'  It  is  too  near  the  dawn  of  a  happier  day,  I  trust,  for 
such  apprehensions  to  be  realized  ;  but,  my  daughter,  if  such 
an  event  were  to  occur,  think  you  there  would  not  be  one 
mind  among  us  in  regard  to  the  evils  of  slavery  ?  The  pre 
judices  which  now  blind  the  minds  of  many,  that  they  can 
hardly  see  any  injustice  in  slavery,  would  all  be  removed. 

*  The  practice  of  holding  slaves,  I  was  remarking,  exist 
ed  in  Africa,  long  before  slaves  were  transported  thence  to 
foreign  countries.  The  Moors  of  Spain  and  Portugal,  pro 
bably  acquired  the  practice  from  the  Mahometans  in  the  North 
of  Africa ;  and  as  evil  communications  and  examples  always 
have  a  corrupting  tendency,  the  practice  of  employing  and 
owning  slaves  soon  prevailed  among  both  the  Portuguese  and 
the  Spaniards,  and  then  among  other  nations. 

4  The  commencement  of  the  traffic  in  African  slaves,  by 
foreign  countries,  was  probably  in  the  year  1454  ;  when 
Henry,  King  of  Portugal,  under  authority  from  the  Roman 
Pontiff,  took  possession  of  several  islands  and  harbors  on  the 
coast,  and  from  thence  making  descents  on  the  swarming 
villages  of  Africa,  seized  the  unsuspecting  inhabitants  and 
carried  them  into  slavery.  It  would  seem,  from  what,  of 
the  history  of  the  slave-trade,  I  have  been  able  to  trace,  that 
in  1481,  the  natives  having  become  terrified  by  the  frequent 
depredations  committed  upon  them,  retired  into  the  interior. 
Their  invaders  finding  it  difficult,  therefore,  to  obtain  slaves 
in  so  great  numbers  and  so  expeditiously  as  they  desired,  a 
treaty  was  made  through  the  influence  of  bribes  and  pre 
sents,  between  the  traders  and  African  chiefs,  the  chiefs  en 
gaging  to  furnish  subjects  for  the  inhuman  traffic.  Wars  be 
tween  different  tribes,  man-stealing,  treachery  and  distrust, 


104  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 

Slaves  introduced  into  Hispaniola. 

misery  and  ruin,  have  been,  thenceforward,  the  consequence ; 
and  slavery  has  been  the  systematized  business  of  the  several 
tribes. 

'The  Portuguese  have  the  credit,  in  history,  of  com 
mencing  the  unhallowed  traffic,  and  of  introducing  slavery 
into  this  Western  world.  In  1508,  slaves  were  carried  into 
Hispaniola,  or  Little  Spain,  as  it  was  called  by  Columbus  ; 
now  St.  Domingo,  one  of  the  West  India  Islands :  and  in 
the  year  1517,  slaves  were  introduced  into  the  Brazilian 
colonies  in  South  America. 

*  It  is  said  that  the  project  of  transporting  slaves  from  Af 
rica  to  the  New  World,  was  first  suggested  by  Bartholemi 
de  Las  Casas,  a  Romish  Priest.     Previous  to  this  time,  ad 
venturers  to  the  Western  continent  and  the  Islands  along  the 
Atlantic  coast,  had,  with  extreme  cruelty,   reduced  to  servi 
tude  the  confiding  and  unoffending  Indians,  the  natives  of 
the  soil.     The  cruelty  with  which  they  treated  the  Indians, 
unaccustomed  to  such  usage  or  to  any  confinement  or  priva 
tions,  was  very  great.     It  is  supposed  that  when  the  Spa 
niards  discovered  the  Island  of  Hispaniola,  there  were  on  it, 
at  least  a  million  of  inhabitants,   (Las   Casas  thinks  there 
were  three  millions,)  formed  into  kingdoms,  and  each  go 
verned  by  sovereigns  called  Caciques.     Such  was  the  cru 
elty  shown  them  by  the  Spaniards,  that  they  were  reduced 
to  sixty  thousand  souls,  in  the  short  space  of  fifteen  years  ; 
and  from  the  year  1508  to  the  year  1517,  they  were  further 
reduced  by  brutal  oppression  from  sixty  thousand  to  fourteen 
thousand  !     A  formal  decree  of  the  king  of  Spain  had  au 
thorized  this  oppression  of  the  natives,  declaring  "  that  the 
servitude  of  the  Indians  (was)  warranted  by  the  laws  both 
of  God  and  man"  ' 

*  A  part  of  the  system  of  cruelty  carried  on  against  these 
poor  Indians,'  said  Caroline,  «  was  the  hunting  of  them  with 
blood-hounds,  was  it  not  ?' 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  105 


Origin  of  slavery  in  America. 


*  It  was  ;  and  these,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  were  introduced  by 
Columbus,  who  was  in  other  respects  a  good  and  great  man. 
Finding  the  natives  determined  to  resist  the  oppressions  of 
his  soldiery,  he  determined  on  their  extinction,  and  went 
forth  against  them  with  all  his  strength.  The  historian 
says  that  a  "  part  of  the  force  employed  by  Columbus  on 
this  occasion  consisted  of  blood-hounds,  which  made  great 
havoc  among  the  native  Indians."  Las  Casas  says,  in  relat 
ing  subsequent  events  in  Cuba  :  "  In  three  or  four  months, 
I  saw  more  than  seven  thousand  children  die  of  hunger, 
whose  fathers  and  mothers  had  been  dragged  away  to  work 
in  the  mines.  I  was  witness  at  the  same  time  of  other  cru 
elties  not  less  horrible.  It  was  resolved  to  march  against  the 
Indians,  who  had  fled  to  the  mountains.  They  were  chased 
like  wild  beasts,  wTith  the  assistance  of  blood-hounds,  who 
had  been  trained  to  the  thirst,  for  human  blood."*  You  re- 


*  The  circumstances  attending  the  introduction  of  dogs  into  the  South 
American  continent  and  islands,  and  their  subsequent  wild  state,  are  thus 
described  in  The  History  of  the  Buccaneers :  "  But  here  the  curious  reader 
may,  perhaps,  inquire,  how  so  many  wild  dogs  came  here.  The  occasion 
was,  the  Spaniards  having  possessed  these  isles,  found  them  peopled  with 
Indians,  a  barbarous  people,  sensual  and  brutish,  hating  a%ll  labor,  and  only 
inclined  to  killing,  and  making  war  against  their  neighbors,  not  out  of  ambi 
tion,  but  only  because -they  agreed  not  with  themselves  in  some  common 
terms  of  language  ;  and  perceiving  the  dominion  of  the  Spaniards  laid  great 
restrictions  upon  their  lazy  and  brutish  customs,  they  conceived  an  irrecon- 
cileable  hatred  against  them,  but  especially  because  they  saw  them  take 
possession  of  their  kingdoms  and  dominions;  hereupon  they  made  against 
them  all  the  resistance  they  could,  opposing  every  where  their  designs  to 
the  utmost;  and  the  Spaniards  finding  themselves  cruelly  haled  by  the 
Indians,  and  nowhere  secure  from  their  treacheries,  resolved  to  extirpate 
and  ruin  them,  since  they  could  neither  tame  them  by  civility,  nor  conquer 
them  with  the  sword.  But  the  Indians,  it  being  their  custom  to  make  their 
woods  their  chief  places  of  defence,  at  present  made  these  their  refuge, 
whenever  they  fled  from  the  Spaniards ;  hereupon  those  first  conquerors  of  the 
New  World  made  use  of  dogs  to  range  and  search  the  intricatest  thickets  of 
woods  and  forests,  for  those  their  implacable  and  unconquerable  enemies; 
thus  they  forced  them  to  leave  their  old  refuge,  and  submit  to  the  sword,  see 
ing  no  milder  usage  would  do  it;  hereupon  they  killed  some  of  them,  and 
quartering  their  bodies,  placed  them  in  the  high-ways,  that  others  might 
take  warning  from  such  a  punishment;  but  this  severity  proved  of  iil  con 
sequence  :  for,  instead  of  frighting  them  and  reducing  them  to  civility,  they 
conceived  such  horror  of  the  Spaniards,  that  they  reselved  to  detest  and  fly 
their  sight  for  ever;  hence,  the  greatest  part  died  in  caves  and  subterrane- 


106  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Origin  of  slavery  in  America. 


collect  the  revolting  description  which  Lord  Byron  gives  of 
the  fierceness  and  rapacity  of  these  animals,  when  they  have 
once  acquired  a  fondness  for  human  flesh  : 

"  He  saw  the  lean  dogs  beneath  the  wall, 

Hold  o'er  the  dead  their  carnival, 

Gorging  and  growling  o'er  carcase  and  limb — 

They  were  too  busy  to  bark  at  him, 

From  a  Tartar's  skull  they  had  stript  the  flesh, 

As  ye  pull  the  fig  when  the  fruit  is  fresh. 

The  seal  ps  were  in  the  wild  dog's  maw, 

The  hair  was  tangled  round  his  jaw. >; 

*  Las  Casas,  with  the  support  of  other  ecclesiastics,  de 
voted  his  life  to  endeavor  the  amelioration  of  the  condi 
tion  of  these  poor  oppressed  Indians.  He  crossed  the  At 
lantic  for  the  purpose  again  and  again.  He  braved  all  dan 
gers,  and  shrunk  from  no  fatigue  in  their  behalf,  but  unceas 
ingly  urged  their  claims  at  the  Spanish  court.  In  his  sym 
pathy  for  one  class  of  his  fellow-men,  however.  Las  Casas 
forgot  or  disregarded  the  rights  of  another  class.  From  at 
least  mistaken  motives  of  humanity,  he  finally  proposed  to 
the  Emperor,  Charles  V.,  a  project  to  import  slaves  from 
Africa,  representing  that  the  warm  climate  of  the  South 
would  be  congenial  to  their  natures,  and  that  thus  the  labors 
of  the  surviving  Indians  might  be  greatly  relieved.  This 
project,  unfortunately,  was  adopted,  and  laid  the  foundation 
of  African  slavery  in  the  Western  World. 

1  The  condition  of  the  poor  Indians,  however,  was  by  no 
means  bettered.  The  Bishop  of  Chiapa,  I  mean  Las  Casas, 
had  the  mortification  to  find  the  chains  which  it  was  the  ob- 


ous  places  of  woods  and  mountains,  in  which  places  I  myself  have  often 
seen  great  numbers  of  human  bones.  The  Spaniards,  finding  no  more  In 
dians  to  appear  about  the  woods,  turned  away  a  great  number  of  dogs  they 
had  in  their  houses,  and  they  finding  no  masters  to  keep  them,  betook  them 
selves  to  the  woods  and  fields  to  hunt  for  food  to  preserve  their  lives;  thus, 
by  degrees,  they  became  unacquainted  with  houses  and  grew  wild.  This 
is  the  truest  account  I  can  give  of  the  multitudes  of  wild  dogs  in  these 
parts." 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA.  107 


Mistaken  philanthropy  of  Las  Casas. 


ject  of  his  life  to  break,  rivetted  more  firmly,  whilst  the  poor 
Africans  became,  through  his  influence,  fellow-sufferers  with 
the  Indians  in  slavery  !  The  final  and  mournful  history  of 
these  Indians,  has  been  written,  in  one  sentence,  by  the  bio 
grapher  of  Columbus.  Says  Irving,  "  They  have  long  since 
passed  away,  pining  and  perishing  beneath  the  domination 
of  the  strangers,  whom  they  welcomed  so  joyfully  to  their 
shores." 

'  The  error  of  Las  Casas,  is  one  into  which  even  good 
men,  of  ardent  temperament  and  philanthropic  minds,  may 
sometimes  fall,  impressed  with  the  importance  of  a  subject 
which  enlists  the  best  feelings  of  human  nature.  They  may 
take  too  limited  and  partial  a  view  of  the  subject,  and  lose 
sight  of  important  connexions  and  incidental  circumstances, 
in  their  devoted  attention  to  the  single  object  which  absorbs 
their  immediate  sympathies.' 

Caroline  here  suggested,  *  It  would  be  extremely  unfortu 
nate  if  by  any  imprudent,  or  misdirected  zeal,  we  should  be 
guilty  of  a  similar  error,  in  attempting  to  better  the  condition 
of  the  enslaved  Africans  in  our  land,  and  should  thus  bring 
down  upon  them  and  our  country  greater  evils  than  we  are 
striving  to  avert.  This,  I  should  infer,  is  feared  by  some. 
You,  I  think,  intimated,  some  time  since,  that  harsh  and 
censorious  language,  and  coercive  measures,  have  that  ten 
dency.' 

'  We  cannot,  with  propriety,  or  with  good  hope  of  safety 
or  success,  be  indifferent  to  consequences  ;  or  refuse  to  take 
counsel  of  circumstances,  in  determining  the  best  way  of 
promoting  any  cause,  however  good.  Nothing,  surely,  is 
to  be  gained  by  indulging  in  contemptuous,  acrimonious,  or 
threatening  language,  towards  our  southern  brethren,  in 
regard  to  slavery.  They,  it  is  to  be  presumed,  know  as 
well  as  we,  the  tremendous  evils  of  slavery,  and  are  far  more 


108  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


The  plea  of  political  necessity  often  abused. 


deeply  concerned  than  we  in  an  application  of  the  proper 
remedy.  The  course  which  is  sometimes  taken  in  regard  to 
this  subject,  is  not  fraternal,  and  therefore  neither  politic  nor 
wise.  Language  that  is  calculated  unnecessarily  to  wound, 
and  consequently  to  destroy  harmony  of  feeling,  sentiment 
and  action,  on  this  important  subject,  should  be  carefully 
avoided.  Besides,  it  should  be  considered  that  no  measures 
can  tend  to  the  ultimate  benefit  of  the  slaves,  in  which  the 
slave-holders  do  not  generally  and  heartily  concur.  The  best 
interests  of  slave  and  master  are  probably  more  identified 
with  each  other,  and  involved,  than  is  generally  imagined. 
There  are  circumstances  which  render  entire  and  immediate 
emancipation  ruinous  to  both  master  and  slave  ;  and  there 
are  circumstances  which  are  felt  also  at  the  South,  that  render 
it  greatly  desirable  to  the  master  that  slavery  should  end. 

1  At  the  same  time  that  I  make  these  remarks,  I  must  also 
say  that  no  pretence  of  political  necessity,  can  plead  a  valid 
excuse  for  those  who  would  perpetrate  any  wrongs  whatever. 
The  butchery  by  wholesale,  (for  it  was  little  better  than 
wholesale  butchery,)  of  the  poor  Indians  in  Hispaniola,  was 
pursued  under  a  most  execrable  pretence,  that  of  political  ne 
cessity.  And  in  the  same  plea,  almost  every  public  crime 
which  has  disgraced  our  race,  and  made  the  world  an  arena 
of  strife,  a  field  of  blood,  has  found  its  constant  defence. 
That  whole  policy  I  would  repudiate,  and  utterly  detest. 
There  may  be  circumstances,  however,  which  render  it  an 
imperious  duty,  doubtless,  in  aiming  even  to  redress  the 
wrongs  that  have  been  done,  to  inquire  seriously  and  prayer 
fully  into  the  best  manner,  and  the  most  probably  successful 
means  of  redress.  Many  in  our  land  profess  to  find  them 
selves  precisely  in  this  situation  in  respect  to  the  slave  ques 
tion.  The  evil,  say  they,  is  entailed  upon  our  country  as  a 
heavy  curse ;  and  how  to  bring  about  its  final  removal  in  a 


PLEA   FOB.  AFRICA.  100 


Must  not  take  advantage  of  our  own  wrong. 


way  that  shall  be  best  for  the  slave,  and  best  for  the  country, 
is  a  question  of  most  difficult  solution.  By  all,  its  importance 
is  confessed  to  be  great.  In  the  view  of  many  of  the  most 
energetic  friends  of  Africa,  it  assumes  a  magnitude  and  com- 
plicateness  which  causes  the  deepest  anxiety.  In  my  own 
view,  it  is  a  question  which  may  well  task  the  wisdom  of 
the  wise,  and  give  ample  scope  to  the  benevolence  of  the 
humane.' 

'  Why,  Pa,  to  plead  for  perpetuating  slavery  on  the 
ground  that  our  own  interests  require  it,  since  the  system  is 
established,  would  be  to  take  advantage  of  our  own  wrong. 
I  hope  that  slavery  will  soon  be  viewed  by  all  as  an  evil  that 
calls  loudly  for  redress,  and  that  our  country  will  yet  unite 
in  some  measures  to  free  our  land  from  the  reproach  of  slave 
ry,  letting  the  oppressed  go  free.  I  feel  great  confidence, 
since  these  conversations  began,  that  this  consummation  will 
be  brought  about.  The  subject  has  assumed,  in  many  im 
portant  respects,  an  entirely  new  aspect,  in  my  humble 
view.  The  evils  of  slavery  magnify,  and  the  "  quo  modo" 
as  Henry  says,  seems  to  be  attended  with  very  embarrassing 
considerations,  when  we  contemplate  the  extinction  of  the 
evil.  But  slavery,  it  appears  to  me,  must  cease  ;  Christians 
cannot,  must  not  cease  to  pray  and  labor  for  its  extinction.' 


110  FLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 

All  Christendom  has  been  engaged  in  the  trade. 


CONVERSATION   XI. 


"  It  is  the  very  madness  of  mock  prudence  to  oppose  the  removal  of  a 
poisoned  dish,  on  account  of  the  pleasant  sauces,  or  nutritious  viands  which 
•would  be  lost  with  it." — Coleridge. 

1  IN  our  last  conversation,  we  noticed  briefly  the  com 
mencement  of  the  African  slave-trade.  The  English  and 
other  nations  in  succession  followed  the  example  of  Portugal 
and  Spain,  and  engaged  in  the  horrid  traffic.  More  than 
three  centuries,  until  lately,  some  of  the  Christian  powers  of 
Europe  have  been  engaged  in  it ;  and,  for  more  than  a  cen 
tury  and  a  half,  it  was  prosecuted  by  all  Christendom,  with 
out  hesitancy  or  remorse.  The  English,  the  Dutch,  the 
French,  the  Spanish,  the  Portuguese,  and  the  Danes,  have 
all  engaged  in  the  traffic. 

*  The  French  Guinea-Company  contracted,  in  1702,  to 
supply  the  Spanish  West  Indies  with  38,000  negroes,  in  ten 
years.     In  1713,  a  treaty  xvas  made  between  England  and 
Spain,  for  the  importation  of  144,000  negroes,  in  thirty  years. 
From  1768  to  1786,  one  hundred  thousand  slaves  were  an 
nually  exported  from  Africa.     In  1786,  England  alone  em 
ployed  in  the  traffic  130  ships. 

*  Some  have  estimated  the  whole  number  of  slaves  ex 
ported  from  Africa  since  the  origin  of  the  trade,  at  nearly 
20,000,000.     Certain  it  is,  that  the  most  potent  nations  of 
the  earth,  have  seemed  to  vie  with  each  other  in  this  fiend 
ish  work.' 

*  And  yet,  Pa,  these  nations  call  themselves  civilized  and 
Christian  I' 

*  Yes,  it  is  a  painful  reflection,  as  it  is  an  indelible  re 
proach,  that  for  so  long  a  time,  the  intercourse  of  Christian 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA,  111 

Africans  have  been  led  to  identify  Christianity  with  cruelty  and  perfidy. 

nations  with  Africa,  instead  of  imparting  the  blessings  of 
civilization  and  religion,  has  tended  only  to  destroy  the  hap 
piness  of  Africa  and  debase  its  character.' 

« The  Africans  surely  cannot  have  conceived  a  very  fa 
vorable  impression  respecting  either  our  religion  or  our  hu 
manity  ?' 

4  The  treatment  which  they  have  received,  it  is  said,  had 
caused  them  to  identify  Christianity  with  perfidy  and  cruelty, 
until  recent  efforts  were  made  to  colonize  Africa  with  free 
men,  and  to  civilize  and  christianize  that  dark  continent  by 
means  of  colonization.  Mr.  Newton,  who,  you  know,  re 
sided  for  a  time  in  Africa,  and  was  engaged  in  the  slave- 
trade  when  the  world  seemed  to  be  blind  to  the  iniquity  of 
the  traffic,  says,  that  such  has  been  the  influence  of  the 
slave-trade,  in  cherishing  among  the  unfortunate  Africans 
the  vilest  passions,  enkindling  among  them  intestine  wars 
waged  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  captives,  and  inciting 
them  to  betray  and  kidnap  one  another,  that  instead  of  the 
influence  of  Europeans  being  favorable  to  piety,  "  the  best 
people  in  Africa  arc  those  who  have  had  the  least  intercourse 
with  Europeans !"  The  Africans,  he  says,  are  worse  in 
proportion  to  their  acquaintance  with  us  ;  and  often,  when 
charged  with  a  crime,  they  will  say,  "  Do  you  think  I  am  a 
white  man  ?" ' 

'  I  suppose  that  most  of  the  slaves  brought  from  Africa, 
are  captives  taken  by  one  tribe  from  another,  in  war  ?' 

*  Mr.  Clarkson,  I  think,  divides  the  slaves  into  seven 
classes.  The  most  considerable  class  consists  of  kidnapped, 
or  stolen  Africans.  In  obtaining  these,  every  species  of  in 
justice,  treachery  and  cruelty  are  resorted  to.  This  class, 
Mr.  C.  supposes,  embraces  one  half  of  the  whole  number 
transported  from  Africa.  The  second  class  consists  of  those 
whose  villages  are  set  on  fire  and  depopulated  in  the  dark 


112  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Classification  of  slaves. 


ness  of  night,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  portion  of  their 
inhabitants.  The  third  class  consists  of  those  who  have 
been  convicted  of  crimes.  The  fourth,  of  prisoners  in  wars 
that  originate  from  common  causes,  or  in  wars  made  solely 
for  the  purpose  of  procuring  captives  for  slaves*  The  fifth, 
such  as  are  slaves  by  birth.  The  sixth  and  seventh,  such 
as  have  surrendered  their  liberty  by  reason  of  debt,  or  by 
other  imprudences,  which  last,  however,  are  comparatively 
few  in  number.' 

4  Are  they  taken  principally  near  the  coast,  or  are  they 
from  the  interior  ?' 

*  They  are  sometimes  brought  a  distance  of  a  thousand 
miles ;  marched  over  land  in  droves,  or  causes  as  they  are 
called,  secured  from  running  away,  by  pieces  of  wood  which 
yoke  them  together  by  the  neck,  two  and  two,  or  by  other 
pieces  fastened  with  staples  to  their  arms.* 

1  They  are  then,  I  suppose,  carried  to  the  "  slave-fac 
tories,"  and  there  sold  in  order  to  be  shipped?' 

*  Some   are   carried   to  what   are  called  slave-factories  ; 
others  immediately  to  the  shore,  and  conveyed  in  boats  to 
the  different  ships  whose  captains  have  captured  or  purchas 
ed  them.     The  men  are  confined  on  board  the  ship,  two 
and  two  together,  either  by  the  neck,  leg,  or  arm,  with  fet 
ters  of  iron  ;  and  are  put  into  apartments,  the  men  occupy 
ing  the  forepart,  the  women  the  afterpart,  and  the  children 
the  middle.     The  tops  of  these  apartments  are  grated  for  the 
admission  of  light  and  for  ventilation  when  the  weather  is 
suitable  for  the   gates  to  be  uncovered,  and  are  about  three 
feet  three  inches  in  height,  just  sufficient  space  being  allotted 
to  each  individual  to  sit  in  one  posture,  the  whole  stowed 
away  like  so  much  lumber.' 

4  Poor  creatures  !'  said  Caroline,  '  how  wretched  they  must 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  113 


How  secured  and  sold. — Horrors  of  the  passage. 

feel,  to  find  themselves  in  this  situation,  confined  for  trans 
portation  to  a  land  of  strangers  and  to  a  house  of  bondage — 
to  scenes  of  ignominy  and  perpetual  servitude.  They  must 
indeed  feel  wretched  beyond  expression.  O  how  hard  is  the 
human  heart !' 

*  It  is  said  that  many  of  them  whilst  the  ships  are  waiting 
for  their  full  lading,  and   whilst  they  are  near  their  native 
shore  which  they  are  no  more  to  set  foot  upon  for  ever,  have 
been  so  depressed,  and  overwhelmed  with  such  unsupport- 
able  distress,  that  they  have  been  induced  to  die  by  their 
own  hands.     Others  have  become  deranged  and  perfect  ma 
niacs,  or  have  pined  away  and  died  with  despairing,  broken 
hearts.' 

*  Horrid !    Are  they  kept  in  the  confined  situation  you 
have  described,  during  the  whole  passage,  and  allowed  no 
exercise  nor  access  to  the  fresh  air  ?     I  should  think  they 
would  all  die,  Pa  ?' 

«  In  the  day-time,  in  fair  weather,  they  are  sometimes 
brought  on  deck.  They  are  then  placed  in  long  rows  on 
each  side  the  ship,  two  and  two  together.  As  they  are 
brought  up  from  their  apartments,  a  long  chain  is  passed 
through  the  shackles  of  each  couple,  successively,  and  thus 
the  whole  row  is  fastened  down  to  the  deck.  In  this  situa 
tion  they  receive  their  food.  After  their  coarse  and  meagre 
meal,  a  drum  is  beaten  by  one  of  the  sailors,  and  at  its 
sound  the  negroes  are  all  required  to  exercise  for  their 
health,  jumping  in  their  chains  as  high  as  their  fetters  will 
let  them ;  and  if  any  refuse  to  exercise  in  this  way,  they 
are  whipped  until  they  comply.  This  jumping,  the  slave- 
merchants  call  "  dancing.''1 ' 

« I  have  read  frequent  accounts  of  these  cruelties,'  said 
Henry ;  « and  have  understood,  as  I  think  you  also  told  us, 
that  the  poor  slaves  suffer  most  in  what  is  called  "the 

12 


114  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 

The  middle  passage. 

middle  passage  :*'  that  is,  I  suppose,  the  whole  time  they 
are  on  board  ship  after  they  sail  ?' 

4  Yes.  It  is  the  whole  passage  from  the  time  the  ship 
weighs  anchor  until  she  arrives  at  her  destined  port.  On 
the  passage,  the  situation  of  the  slaves  is,  indeed,  doubly  de 
plorable,  especially  if  the  ship  have  a  long  passage,  and  is 
very  full.  A  full-grown  person  is  allowed,  in  the  most  com 
modious  slave-ships,  but  sixteen  inches  in  width,  three  feet 
three  inches  in  height,  and  five  feet  eight  inches  in  length. 
They  lie  in  one  crowded  mass  on  the  bare  planks,  and  by 
the  constant  motion  of  the  ship,  are  often  chafed  until  their 
bones  are  almost  bare,  and  their  limbs  covered  with  bruises 
and  sores.  The  heat  is  often  so  great,  and  the  air  they 
breathe  so  poisoned  with  pestilence  by  the  feverish  exhala 
tions  of  the  suffering  multitude,  that  nature  can  no  longer 
sustain  itself.  It  is  no  uncommon  occurrence,  to  find,  on 
each  successive  morning,  some  who  have  died  during  the 
night,  in  consequence  of  their  suffering  and  confined  situa 
tion.  A  large  proportion  of  those  who  are  shipped,  die  be 
fore  they  have  crossed  the  ocean.  Many  also  die  soon  after 
completing  the  voyage,  from  what  is  called  "  the  seasoning ;" 
that  is,  in  becoming  acclimated  in  the  country  to  which  they 
are  carried.' 

*  Poor  Africans  !  My  heart  bleeds  at  their  sufferings,'  said 
Caroline,  whose  eyes  now  suffused  with  tears  ;  *  their  home 
was,  no  doubt,  a  "  sweet  home"  to  them — as  much  to  them, 
as  ours  is  to  us ;  and,  perhaps,  they  were  once  as  happy.' 

'  It  is  said  that  when  the  slave-holders  first  visited  the 
western  coast  of  Africa,'  replied  Mr.  L.,  *  the  country  was 
most  delightful.  The  coast  was  covered  with  villages,  or 
thickly  settled  towns,  which  swarmed  with  inhabitants. 
Simple  in  their  manner?,  amiable  in  their  dispositions,  in 
quiet  enjoyment  of  the  profuse  bounties  of  nature,  they  are 
represented  as  exceeding  happy.' 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  115 

Africa  as  she  was. 

*  They  were  not  civilized  ?'  interrupted  Henry. 

«  No,'  said  Mr.  L.,  '  they  were  not  civilized  according  to 
our  ideas  of  civilization ;  but  they  were  a  comparatively  in 
nocent,  unoffending,  contented,  happy  race.  It  was  not 
until  slave-dealers  introduced  among  them  every  thing  that 
could  please  the  fancy  and  awaken  the  cupidity  of  unciviliz 
ed  men,  that  the  exterminating  wars  which  since  have 
scarcely  ceased,  were  known.  By  the  more  than  brutal 
cruelty  of  white  men,  quarrels  were  fomented,  tribe  was  set 
against  tribe,  and  each  supplied  with  the  means  of  mutual 
destruction.'* 

'  What  proportion,  Sir,  of  those  who  have  been  torn  away 
from  their  home,  are  supposed  to  have  died  on  the  passage, 
or  before  their  "seasoning"  was  over?  There  must  have 
been  an  amazing  sacrifice  of  human  life  in  this  traffic  ?' 

*  Of  100,000  Africans  supposed  to  have  been  torn  away 
by  the  hand  of  violence  from  their  native  clime,  annually, 
one  third  are  supposed  to  have  died  on  the  passage  and 
been  consigned  to  a  ivatery  grave.     Another  third  are  sup 
posed  to  have  died  from  "the  seasoning,"  or  from  broken 
hearts.' 

'  So  then,  Henry,'  said  Caroline,  turning  to  her  brother, 

*  The  author  does  not  mean  here  to  assert  that  the  slavery  of  Africans  is 
of  modern  invention.    Slavery  is  of  very  remote  antiquity.  We  find  it  exist 
ing  even  before  the  flood.    Moses  when  he  gave  laws  to  the  Jews,  recog 
nizes  its  existence,  and  gives  laws  respecting  it.    There  is  no  doubt  either 
that  slavery  has  existed  in  Africa  from  a  very  early  period,  the  natives 
having  made  slaves  of  their  brethren  from  the  earliest  times  of  which  we 
have  any  historical  acquaintance ;  and  from  a  very  early  period,  Africa  has 
been  spoiled  and  scattered  by  other  nations.    "  In  this  situation,"    says 
Park,  "  the  great  number  of  the  negro  inhabitants  of  Africa  have  continued 
from  the  most  early  period  of  their  history,  with  this  aggravation,  that  their 
children  are  born  to  no  other  inheritance."     At  least  half  the  population  of 
the  entire  continent  have  been  in  bondage  to  their  own  race  from  time  im 
memorial,  as  they  are  now.  What  he  would  assert  is,  that  this  western  coast 
of  Africa,  of  which  he  is  speaking,  was,  as  appears  by  all  accounts,  in  a  com 
paratively  happy  state  before  the  adventures  of  the  white  slaver  upon  that 
coast, 


116  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Extent  and  horrors  of  the  trade. 


'dreadful  to  think!  upwards  of  60,000  out  of  the  100,000 
torn  away  from  Africa  every  year,  die  almost  immediately, 
in  consequence  of  hard  usage  and  the  change  of  climate  !' 

*  Yes,'  continued  Mr.  L.,  « more  than  60,000,  probably, 
die  every  year,  in  a  few  months  »after  the  galling  chain  of 
slavery  is  fastened  upon  them.  Not  a  few  of  these,  as  I  said 
before,  die  of  broken  hearts — not  all  from  changes  of  climate 
and  hard  usage.  A  multitude  of  the  murdered  sons  of  Africa, 
will,  another  day,  appear  at  the  bar  of  eternal  justice,  to  wit 
ness  against  their  cruel  murderers  !  From  depths  of  ocean 
alone,  a  vast  army  will  appear  when  the  sea  shall  give  up 
its  dead,  crying  for  vengeance  against  their  inhuman  de 
stroyers  !  It  would  be  very  easy  to  harrow  up  our  feelings 
by  reference  to  well  authenticated  facts  which  show  the 
cruelties  attending  the  trade.  If  it  were  not  already  late,  I 
would  cite  one  instance,  as  a  sample  of  the  estimation  in 
which  human  life  is  held  by  those  miserable  men  who  are 
engaged  in  the  trade.  As  it  is,  I  will  defer  it  until  to-mor 
row.' 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  117 


Cruelties  of  the  slave-trade. 


CONVERSATION   XII. 


"  Forth  sprang  the  ambush 'd  ruffians  on  theft  prey ; 

They  caught,  they  bound,  they  drove  them  far  away  ; 

The  white  man  bought  them  at  the  mart  of  blood, 

In  pestilential  barks  they  cross'd  the  flood  ; 

Then  were  the  wretched  ones  asunder  torn, 

To  distant  isles,  to  separate  bondage  borne, 

Denied,  though  sought  with  tears,  the  sad  relief 

That  misery  loves — the  fellowship  of  grief." — Montgomery. 

THE  family  were  now  together,  and  Caroline,  having  just 
risen  from  a  short  recreation  upon  the  piano,  seeing  her 
father  at  leisure,  reminded  him  that  at  the  close  of  their  last 
evening's  conversation,  he  had  '  promised  to  give  them  in 
the  next  conversation,  facts  showing  the  recklessness  of 
slave-dealers  in  respect  to  the  lives  of  their  unhappy  cap 
tives.' 

*  The  case  to  which  I  designed  to  refer,  as  exemplifying 
the  estimate  in  which  the  lives  and  happiness  of  their  mise 
rable  victims  are  held,  by  the  still  more  wretched,  because 
guilty  beings,  who  bring  the  poor  Africans  from  their  native 
land,  to  suffer  in  chains,  and  then  to  toil  for  strangers,  and 
finally  to  die  in  bondage,  is  that  of  three  slave-vessels  cap 
tured  some  years  since  by  the  Dryad  frigate.  The  account 
which  appeared  in  the  English  papers  was  as  follows  :-— 
"  The  Fair  Rosamond  and  the  Black  Joke,  tenders  to  the 
Frigate  Dryad,  have  captured  three  slave  vessels,  which  had 
originally  1100  slaves  on  board,  but  of  which  they  succeed 
ed  in  taking  only  306  to  Sierra  Leone.  It  appears  that  the 
Fair  Rosamond  had  captured  a  lugger  with  160  Africans,  and 
shortly  after  saw  the  Black  Joke  in  chase  of  two  other  lug 
gers.  She  joined  in  the  chase,  but  the  vessels  succeeded  in 


118  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Extent  of  the  slave-trade  in  later  years. 


getting  into  the  Bonny  river,  and  landed  600  slaves  before 
the  tenders  could  take  possession  of  them.  They  found  on 
board  only  200,  but  ascertained  that  one  hundred  and  eighty 
slaves,  manacled  together,  had  been  thrown  overboard,  of 
whom  only  four  were  picked  up."  ' 

*  O,  shocking  !  a  day  of  retribution  surely  must  come  for 
such  hard-hearted  monsters,  such  murderous  fiends.     Wliy 
is  it  that  the  Christian  world  have  ever  tolerated  such  dreadful 
crimes,  such  worse  than  barbarous  cruelty  ?    It  must  be  that 
Africans  have  not  been  regarded  as  men  ;  and  yet  I  should 
suppose  such  cruelties  would  hardly  be  practiced  towards 
mere  animals,  by  humane  persons.     Are  not  the  cruelties 
attending  the  slave-trade,  much  less  now  than  formerly  ?' 

*  It  is  said  they  are  as  great,  and  probably  greater  now  than 
they  have  been  at  any  former  period.     Obstacles  have  been 
thrown  in  the  way  of  the  traffic  by  the  planting  of  colonies 
on  the  coast,  and  the  vigilance  of  our  own  and  of  the  Eng 
lish  government  has  been  somewhat  increased,  in  order  to 
detect  and  capture  vessels  engaged  in   the  trade ;  but  the 
slave  ships  are  numerous,  and  are  said  to  be  crowded  to  ex 
cess,  and  the  mortality  is  dreadful.     In  1824,  120,000  was 
ascertained  to  be  about  the  number  exported  from  the  coast 
of  Africa  that  year,  and  a  list  of  the  names  of  218  vessels, 
believed  to  be  engaged  in  the  traffic,  was  given.    In  the  year 
1827,  no  less  than  125  vessels  sailed   to  Africa  for  slaves, 
from  Cuba  alone.     Previous  to  the  establishment  of  the  co 
lony  at  Liberia,  2,000  slaves  were  exported  annually  from 
the  single  points  of  Cape  Mount  and  Montserado.' 

1  Do  you  know,  Pa,'  Henry  inquired,  *  what  is  the  average 
cost  of  slaves  in  Africa,  to  those  who  engage  in  the  trade  ?' 

*  The  prime  cost  of  the  miserable  victims  enslaved  on  the 
shores  of  Africa,  and  sold  in  Havana  for  between  two  and 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  119 

First  cost  of  slaves. — Domestic  distress. 

four  and  six  hundred  dollars  each,  is,  I  think,  to  those  who 
engage  in  the  traffic  on  the  coast  of  Africa,  a  little  more 
than  one  dollar  "a  log!"  as  is  expressed  in  the  inhuman 
jargon  of  the  slaver,  a  log  meaning  a  human  body.' 

1  My  mind,'  Caroline  here  remarked,  '  is  continually  re 
verting  to  the  awful  scenes  of  the  first  apprehension  of  the 
poor  African,  and  of  his  adieu  to  his  native  land.' 

Mr.  L.  thought  that  *  it  would  be  impossible  for  our  live 
liest  conceptions  to  portray  the  feelings  of  the  poor  slaves 
at  those  moments,  or  to  tell  the  awful  amount  of  that  load  of 
grief  which  continues  for  a  long  time  to  weigh  down  their 
hearts.  We  may  imagine  them  turning  their  weeping  eyes 
towards  their  native  shores,  at  their  departure,  and  associate 
with  that  last  lingering  look  thoughts  that  overwhelm  the 
mind ;  we  may  think  of  the  unutterable  desolation  of  the 
fond  father  or  mother  torn  from  the  children  of  their  love  ; 
the  feelings  of  children  forced  away  from  their  parents  into 
hopeless  exile ;  the  pangs  of  separation  between  husbands 
and  wives  no  more  to  meet  this  side  the  grave  ;  but  we  have 
only  a  very  inadequate  idea  after  all  of  the  bitterness  of  that 
cup  of  wo  which  they  have  to  drink  to  the  very  dregs  !  It 
is  difficult  for  us  to  bring  such  scenes,  and  such  griefs,  to  our 
own  doors  and  bosoms,  and  measure  the  sufferings  of  others 
by  what  would  be  our  own,  placed  in  a  similar  condition. 
We  are  so  accustomed  to  think  disparagingly  of  the  blacks, 
that  our  sympathy  does  not  expand  on  this  subject  as  on  oc 
casions  where  there  is  actually  less  to  move  our  feelings. 
We  have  acquired  a  habit  of  looking  upon  Africans  as  not 
susceptible  of  like  emotions  with  ourselves,  and  when  their 
miseries  are  the  theme,  there  is  comparative  indifference. 
We  associate  with  the  black  skin  a  want  of  sensibility  which 
observation  and  facts  will  by  no  means  justify. 


120  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Affecting  case  of  an  African  Chief. 


"  Fleecy  locks  and  black  complexion 

Cannot  forfeit  nature's  claim  ; 
Skins  may  differ,  but  affection 

Dwells  in  white  and  black  the  same." 

*  You  recollect,  probably,  the  affecting  case  of  the  African 
chief  captured  and  brought  in  chains  to  the  Rio  Pongas  for 
sale,  some  years  ago  ?     He  was  brother  of  Yaradee,  the 
king  of  the  Solima  nation.     His  noble  figure,  and  daring 
eye,  and  commanding  front,  bespoke  a  mind  which  knew  no 
alternative,  save  freedom  or  luin.    He  was  exhibited  for  sale 
like  a  beast,  in  the  market  place,  still  adorned  with  orna 
ments  of  massy   gold,  as  in  the  days  of  his  glory.     The 
tyrant  who  had  seized  and  bound  him,  and  now  offered  him 
for  sale,  demanded  an  enormous  price  of  the  chief  or  of  his 
friends,  as  the  condition  of  his  being  released,  rather  than 
sent  in  bondage  to  a  far  country.     The  warrior  offered  large 
sums  for  his  redemption,  but  his  owner  refused  to  listen  to 
the  proposals.     At  length,  distracted  by  the  very  thought 
of  his   degradation,  tears  stole  from  eyes  that  never  wept 
before,   and    he    entreated   those   around   him   to    cut   his 
hair,  which  had  been  permitted  to  grow  long  and  was  plat 
ted  with  peculiar  care,  in  which  wedges  of  gold  were  con 
cealed  ;  and  these  treasures  he  laid  at  the  feet  of  his  keeper 
to   obtain  a   ransom.     All,    however,  was  in  vain.     The 
wretch  who  held  him  was  inexorable.     He  gave  the  chief 
to  understand  that  he  should  take  care  of  the  gold,  and  get 
as  much  gold  for  him  as  he  could  besides.     Dark  despair 
settling  upon  the  soul  of  the  noble  captive,  "  then  burst  his 
mighty  heart."     In  a  moment,   as  if  by  an  instant  stroke 
from  on  high,  his  faculties  were  shattered.     Unable  to  sus 
tain  himself  under  the  workings  of  his  wounded  spirit,  he  be 
came  a  furious  maniac  ;  and  then  suddenly  withered  and  pe 
rished  !     He  had   never  trembled  in  fields  of  blood  and 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  121 


The  African  Chieftain. 


death ;  but  he  could  not  endure  the  thought  of  servitude  and 
chains.' 

1 1  recollect  the  story,'  said  Henry,  « and  I  recollect  some 
lines  which  appeared  soon  after  the  occurrence,  entitled 

THE   AFRICAN  CHIEFTAIN, 

"  And  must  this  mighty  spirit  yield, 
This  robust  frame  give  up  its  breath, 
Not  nobly  on  the  bloody  field 
Where  valor  sinks  in  death  ? 
But  bound  with  an  inglorious  chain, 
The  scorn  of  every  coward  slave  ? 
The  thought  is  madness — I  disdain 
To  die  but  with  the  brave. 

Break !  break  these  fetters !  and  Til  bring 
A  precious  treasure  to  your  hand — 
Know,  I'm  the  brother  of  a  king 
Who  rules  a  golden  land. 
These  massy  rings  assert  my  fame, 
I've  wealth  concealed  within  my  hair — 
More  shall  be  yours,  if  more  you  claim, 
But  save  me  from  despair! 

Thus  spoke  the  Chieftain,  and  the  tear 
Stole  silent  down  his  manly  face  ; 
Not  death,  not  death,  he  cried,  I  fear — 
I  fear  but  this  disgrace ! 
Bold  mountains  of  my  native  land, 
I'm  lost — nor  ever  more  shall  see 
Those  rugged  heights,  that  daring  stand, 
And  say  we  shall  be  free. 

O  give  me  drink,  my  hopes  are  dead", 
In  mercy  break  this  cursed  chain  ; 
Act  like  the  lion,  take  my  head, 
But  not  prolong  my  pain. 
Souls  of  the  mighty  Chiefs,  whose  blood 
Flow'd  freely  on  that  dreadful  day, 
You  saw  my  deeds,  how  firm  1  stood, 
Take,  take  this  chain  away." 
K 


122  PLEA    FOR  AFRICA. 

The  African  Chieftain. 

*  The  memory  of  the  incident  has  been  preserved  in  my 
mind,'  said  C.,  *  by  some  elegant  and  pathetic  stanzas  from 
the  pen  of  William  Cullen  Bryant.     As  we  happen  to  be  in 
the  vein  of  poetry  now,  and  as  Mr.  Bryant's  admirable  ge 
nius  for  poetry  is  acknowledged  both  in  our  own  country 
and  in  Europe,  I  will  repeat,  in  my  turn,  a  few  lines,  with 
your  permission,  Pa  ?' 

*  Certainly :  Mr.  Bryant's  poetry  is  always  good.' 

THE   AFRICAN  CHIEF. 

41  ChainM  in  the  market-place  he  stood, 

A  man  of  giant  frame, 
Amid  the  gathering  multitude, 

That  shrunk  to  hear  his  name. 
All  stern  of  look  and  strong  of  limb, 

His  dark  eye  on  the  ground  ; 
And  silently  they  gazed  on  him, 

As  on  a  lion  bound. 

Vainly  but  well  the  chief  had  fought, 

He  was  a  captive  now, 
Yet  pride,  that  fortune  humbles  not, 

Was  written  on  his  brow ; 
The  scars  his  dark,  broad  bosom  wore, 

Show'd  -warrior  true  and  brave  : 
A  prince  among  his  tribe  before, 

He  could  not  be  a  slave. 

Then  to  his  conqueror  he  spake — 

"  My  brother  is  a  king ; 
Undo  this  necklace  from  my  neck, 

And  take  this  bracelet  ring, 
And  send  me  where  my  brother  reigns, 

And  I  will  fill  thy  hands 
With  stores  of  ivory  from  the  plains, 

And  gold  dust  from  the  sands." 

"  Not  for  thy  ivory  or  thy  gold 

Will  i  unbind  thy  chain  ; 
That  bloody  hand  shall  never  hold 

The  battle-spear  again. 


PLEA  TOR  AFRICA.  123 


The  African  Chieftain. 


A  price  thy  nation  never  gave 

Shall  yet  be  paid  for  thee  ; 
For  thou  shalt  be  the  Christian's  !  slave* 

In  land  beyond  the  sea." 

Then  wept  the  warrior  chief,  and  bade 

To  shred  his  locks  away  ; 
And  one  by  one,  each  heavy  braid 

Before  the  victor  lay. 
Thick  were  the  plaited  locks,  and  long, 

And  deftly  hidden  there, 
Shone  many  a  wedge  of  gold  among 

The  dark  and  crisped  hair. 

«•  Look!  feast  thy  greedy  eye  with  gold 

Long  kept  for  sorest  need, 
Take  it — thou  askest  sums  untold — 

And  say  that  I  am  freed  : 
Take  it — my  wife,  xhe  long,  long  day 

Weeps  by  the  cocoa  tree, 
And  my  young  children  leave  their  play, 

And  ask  in  vain  for  me." 

"  I  take  thy  gold— but  I  have  made 

Thy  fetters  fast  and  strong  ; 
And  ween  that  by  the  cocoa  shade, 

Thy  wife  shalt  wait  thee  long." 
Strong  was  the  agony  that  shook 

The  captive's  frame  to  hear, 
And  the  proud  meaning  of  his  look 

Was  changed  to  mortal  fear. 

His  heart  was  broken — crazed  his  brain- 

At  once  his  eye  grew  wild, 
He  struggled  fiercely  with  his  chain, 

Whisper'd,  and  wept,  and  smil'd; 
Yet  wore  not  long  those  fatal  bands ; 

And  once  at  shut  of  day, 
They  drew  him  forth  upon  the  sands, 

The  foul  Hyena's  prey." 


124  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Measures  in  British  Parliament. 


CONVERSATION   XIII. 


"I  pass  with  haste  by  the  coast  of  Africa,  whence  my  mind  turns  with 
indignation  at  the  abominable  traffic  in  the  human  species,  from  which  a 
part  of  our  countrymen  dare  to  derive  their  most  inauspicious  wealth." 
— Sir  William  Jones, 

1  AGAIN  we  will  turn  our  attention,  for  a  short  time,  if  you 
please,  my  dear  children,  to  the  slave-trade.' 

'  Has  not  public  opinion  undergone  a  very  great  change, 
Pa,  in  regard  to  the  slave-trade  within  a  few  years  ?'  inquir 
ed  Caroline. 

1  The  change  has  been  great,  indeed,'  said  Mr.  L.  '  Once 
there  were  hardly  a  few  to  be  found  to  make  any  effort  what 
ever  for  Africa's  relief.  She  was  bleeding  at  every  pore, 
but  none  commiserated  her  distress.  She  saw  and  there  was 
none  to  help — she  looked,  and  there  was  none  to  drop  even 
the  tear  of  pity  over  her  miseries.  Public  opinion  has  been 
changing  silently  but  rapidly  in  Great  Britain  and  America 
for  many  years.  Every  passing  year,  the  revolution  in  sen 
timent  has  been  more  and  more  apparent. 

'  In  1776,  whilst  the  sensibilities  of  the  public  were  much 
excited  by  the  fact  that  132  living  slaves  had  been  thrown 
overboard  from  a  vessel  engaged  in  the  trade,  DAVID  HART 
LEY,  a  member  of  the  British  Parliament,  laid  upon  the  table 
of  the  House  of  Commons,  fetters  that  had  been  used  in  con 
fining  the  unhappy  victims  of  this  traffic  on  board  of  slave- 
ships,  and  moved  a  Resolution,  "  That  the  trade  [was]  con 
trary  to  the  laws  of  God  and  the  rights  of  man." 

<Xn  1787,  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  fixed  a 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Abolition  of  the  trade  by  the  Congress  of  the  U.  S.  and  other  nations. 

period  for  the  abolition  of  the  trade,  which  by  act  of  Con 
gress  became  a  law  in  1808,  prohibiting  the  farther  introduc 
tion  of  slaves  into  the  States. 

*  In  1787,  Wilberforce  made  his  first  motion  in  Parliament 
for  the  abolition  of  the  slave-trade,  which  motion  was  renew 
ed  annually  in  Parliament  for  twenty  years,  until  at  length  it 
was  enacted  that  after  March,  1808,  no  slaves  should  be  im 
ported  into  the  British  dominions. 

1  On  the  2d  day  of  March,  1807,  an  act  was  passed  by  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States,  the  first  section  of  which 
enacts,  "  that  after  the  first  day  of  January,  1808,  it  shall 
not  be  lawful  to  import  or  bring  into  the  United  States,  or 
the  territories  thereof,  from  any  foreign  kingdom,  place,  or 
country,  any  negro,  mulatto,  or  person  of  color,  with  intent 
to  hold,  sell  or  dispose  of  such  negro,  mulatto,  or  person  of 
color,  as  a  slave,  or  to  be  sold  at  service  or  labor."" 

'  At  length,  the  Dutch,  the  Spanish,  the  Portuguese,*  and 
the  Brazilians  made  enactments  against  the  traffic.  France 
also  denounced  it,  and  Austria  declared  that  the  moment  a 
slave  touches  an  Austrian  ship,  he  is  free.  At  the  Congress 
of  Vienna  in  1815,  the  sovereigns  there  present,  and  the 
States  represented,  pledged  themselves  to  the  suppression  of 
the  trade.  And  on  the  23d  of  March,  1830s,  the  prosecution 
of  the  slave-trade  ceased  to  be  lawful  for  the  citizens  or  sub 
jects  of  any  Christian  power  in  Europe  or  America. 

1  The  late  universal  emancipation  of  slaves  by  the  British 
government  in  their  West  India  colonies,  which  took  effect, 
August  1,  1834,  is  another  most  important  step  in  the  deve 
lopment  of  a  right  feeling  in  relation  to  this  subject,  and  I 
cannot  but  hope,  notwithstanding  all  unfavorable  circum 
stances,  that  a  very  few  years  will  have  brought  to  pass  all 

*  The  Queen  of  Portugal  has  recently  issued  a  decree  against  the  slave- 
trade,  making  it  piracy. 


1'26  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


The  trade  not  materially  suppressed. 


that  we  would  claim  of  freedom,  for  slaves  every  where,  and 
for  the  continent  of  Africa.' 

'  But  if  I  have  understood  you,  Pa,  you  have  said  that  the 
slave-trade  is  yet  carried  on  extensively  ?' 

*  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  it  is,  Caroline,  notwithstanding 
the  obligations  of  laws  and  treaties  to  the  contrary.  When 
the  United  States,  in  connexion  with  England,  declared  the 
slave-trade  to  be  piracy,  and  forbade  the  further  introduction 
of  slaves  into  their  possessions,  the  friends  of  humanity  in 
dulged  the  hope  that  a  death-blow  was  about  to  be  given  to 
the  traffic.  Other  nations,  by  important  measures,  encou 
raged  the  hope.  The  event,  however,  has  caused  great  dis 
appointment.  I  have  before  stated  some  of  the  slavery  sta 
tistics,  showing  the  state  of  the  trade  in  1824  and  in  1827. 
From  a  document  which  I  have  seen,  it  also  appears  that 
from  1820  to  1831,  no  less  than  322,526  slaves  were  im 
ported  into  the  single  port  of  Rio  Janeiro  alone.  By  very 
recent  documents,  it  appears  that  the  abominable  traffic  is 
still  carried  on  to  a  considerable  extent  in  Brazil.  The  fact 
that  the  trade  is  now  generally  denounced,  and  declared  il 
legal,  and  although  it  be  declared  by  every  Christian  govern 
ment  piratical,  will  not  alone  be  sufficient  to  destroy,  or  even 
materially  to  lessen  the  trade. 

4  Armed  vessels  may  be  sent  to  cruise  off  the  coast,  as 
they  now  do,  to  capture  the  slave-ships  ;  but  experience 
proves  that  no  squadron  will  be  likely  effectually  to  prevent 
the  trade,  without  the  aid  of  settlements  of  civilized  and 
christianized  communities  along  the  coast.  Thousands  of 
little  rivers,  and  bays,  that  indent  the  shores  of  Africa,  either 
refuse  to  admit  our  ships  into  their  shallow  waters,  whilst 
they  afford  lurking  and  hiding  places  for  those  concerned  in 
the  traffic  and  well  acquainted  with  the  geography  of  the 
country,  or  enable  the  slaver  being  pursued,  to  elude  the 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  127 


Something  more  must  be  done. 


search.  If  any  one  factory,  mart,  or  haunt,  be  broken  up, 
word  is  immediately  sent  by  the  traders  into  the  country, 
that  slaves  must  be  brought  to  some  less  frequented  and  un 
suspected  part  of  the  coast  which  is  designated,  and  there 
they  are  received  with  impunity,  the  traders  with  their  ves 
sels  lying  concealed  perhaps  under  the  woody  banks  of  un 
known  winding  streams. 

*  It  has  been  supposed,  therefore,  that  COLONIES  establish 
ed  along  the  coast  are  indispensable  to  the  entire  extinction 
of  the  trade.     Twenty  or  thirty  colonies  scattered  along  the 
coast,  it  is  said,  would  put  an  end  to  the  trade  effectually  and 
for  ever.     The  native  chiefs  of  Sherbro  district,  through  a 
strong  desire  to  be  shielded  from  the  ravages  of  the  slave- 
trade,  presented  one  hundred  miles  of  coast,  southward  of 
Sierra  Leone,  to  the  colony  f  and  it  is  stated  that  all  the  coast 
in  the  vicinity  of  that  place  is  now  cleared  of  slave-factories 
and  slave-vessels.  Several  native  chiefs  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Liberian  colony  have  desired  arrangements  to  be  entered  into 
with  them  for  the  security  of  that  part  of  the  coast,  and  are 
hoping  for  as  favorable  results.     The  New-York  and  Penn 
sylvania  colony  at  Bassa  Cove,  it  is  anticipated,  will  be  an 
efficient  coadjutor  with  those  already  named,  in  extending  a 
Christian  influence  in  Africa,  and  in  hastening  the  day  when 
the  traffic  in  human  flesh  and  blood  will  end  J 

*  What  is  there,  then,  Sir,  to  prevent  the  formation  of  co 
lonies  like  those  that  now  exist,  along  the  whole  coast?     It 
would,  I  suppose,  be  a  great  work — but  is  it  not  worthy  of 
great  effort  ?' 

'  Many  are  hoping  and  praying  and  laboring  for  such  a 
result,  Caroline.  I  shall  have  occasion  to  refer  to  this  sub 
ject  again  in  a  future  conversation.  It  will  be  consistent 
with  the  plan  which  I  have  proposed  for  these  conversa- 


128  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


Colonies  along  the  coast  necessary. 


tions,  to  turn  our  attention  now  again  to  the  evils  of  slavery 
as  it  exists  in  our  own  country. 

*  We  have  seen  how  slavery  was  introduced  here,  at  an 
unfavorable  moment,  the  planters  consulting  their  immediate 
profit  and  regardless  of  future  consequences  and  so  falling  in. 
with  the  policy  of  England ;  and  how  slavery  was  still  forced 
on  these  colonies  in  spite  of  remonstrance,  the  final  welfare 
of  America  being  an  object  of  minor  importance  compared 
with  the  increase  of  the  commerce  of  the  mother  country, 
and  the  immediate  supply  of  the  English  treasury.  In  1772,, 
the  Assembly  of  Virginia  went  so  far  as  to  set  forth,  in  a  re 
spectful  petition  to  his  Majesty,  the  King  of  Great  Britain,, 
the  inhumanity  of  the  slave-trade,  and  to  suggest  that  it 
might  "  endanger  the  very  existence  of  his  American  do 
minions."  This  warning  is  the  more  remarkable,  inasmuch 
as  it  came  from  the  first  colony  the  English  ever  had  in. 
America,  and  one  already  involved  in  the  evils  of  slavery  ;. 
and  it  was  yet  more  remarkable  in  the  event — for  the  Ame 
rican  colonies  existed  a  very  little  time  after  that  warning,  a 
part  of  the  dominions  of  the  monarch  who  would  not  deign, 
even  an  answer  to  the  petitioners.  The  warning  werejsro- 
phetic,  if  we  might  judge  alone  from  the  event.' 

4  Virginia,  I  have  seen  it  suggested  by  one  of  her  orators, 
"prides  herself"  that  she  has  ever  pursued  the  same  course 
m  relation  to  this  matter,'  said  Henry. 

4  Virginia  certainly  deserves  credit.  During  her  colonial 
existence,  when  it  was  the  determined  policy  of  England  to 
introduce  as  many  slaves  as  possible  into  Virginia,  her 
House  of  Burgesses  passed  no  less  than  twenty-three  acts 
tending  to  suppress  the  horrible  traffic  in  slaves ;  all  which 
acts  were  negatived  by  the  king !  In  the  original  draft  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  one  of  her  most  gifted 
sons,  Mr.  Jefferson,  inserted,  a  heart-stirring  passage,  charg- 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  129 


Virginia's  early  efforts  against  slavery. 


ing  the  conduct  of  the  king  in  putting  his  veto  on  these 
enactments  for  the  suppression  of  the  slave-trade,  as  a  crime, 
aggravated  by  Lord  Dunmore's  endeavoring  to  stir  up  the 
slaves  in  the  colonies  against  us.  This  clause  was  stricken 
out  finally,  because  it  was  ascertained  that  it  could  not  obtain 
the  assent  of  all  the  States.  In  1778,  as  soon  as  Virginia 
found  herself  in  a  situation  to  do  it,  although  in  the  midst  of 
a  civil  war,  she  made  the  African  slave-trade  punishable  by 
death.  And  it  was  at  her  instance  also  that  the  act  of  Con 
gress  was  passed,  declaring  it  piracy,  subjecting  the  offender 
to  capture  and  punishment  in  any  court  of  any  nation  which 
should  pass  the  same  law.  So  far  has  Virginia  the  merit  of 
having  maintained  her  claims  to  "  the  noble,  the  humane, 
and  the  adventurous  for  the  right."  Nor  does  she  now  fall 
behind  any  State  in  the  Union  in  her  professed  abhorrence 
of  slavery,  and  in  a  professed  and  apparent  desire  to  see  the 
country  free  from  slavery's  stain.  Virginia,  in  common 
with  the  rest  of  the  South,  sees,  or  thinks  she  sees  diffi 
culties  in  the  way  of  immediate  and  universal  emancipation, 
which  we  in  the  non-slaveholding  States,  do  not,  all  of  us, 
appreciate ;  but  we  can  hardly  avoid  giving  her  credit  for 
uniformity  of  practice,  honesty  of  purpose,  and  a  true  desire 
to  see  slavery  extinct  in  our  land.  It  was  the  movement  of 
Virginia  in  the  correspondence  which  she  authorized  be 
tween  her  Governor^  (since  President  Monroe,)  and  Mr. 
Jefferson,  then  President  of  the  United  States,  a  copy  of 
which  is  before  me,  attested  by  William  Wirt,  then  clerk  of 
the  Virginia  House  of  Delegates,  which  led  to  the  formation 
of  the  American  Colonization  Society,  and  to  the  founding  of 
civilized  and  Christian  colonies  in  Africa.' 

1  Did  none  of  the  other  States,  at  an  early  period,  adopt 
measures  in  relation  to  this  subject  ?' 

*  Yes,  Henry,  Virginia  was  earliest  in  setting  the  example 


130  PLEA    FOR  AFRICA. 


Other  States  followed  Virginia's  example. 


for  the  exclusion  of  imported  slaves  ;  but  a  duty  on  the  im 
portation  of  slaves  was  laid  by  New- York,  in  1753 ;  by 
Pennsylvania,  in  1762  ;  and  by  New-Jersey,  in  1769.  In 
1780,  Pennsylvania  passed  a  law  for  the  gradual  abolition 
of  slavery,  which  has  the  merit  of  being  the  earliest  legis 
lative  proceeding  of  the  kind  in  any  country.  All  the  States 
north  and  east  of  Maryland,  have  since  passed  similar  laws. 
At  a  very  early  period,  the  free-holders  and  inhabitants  of 
the  counties  of  Somerset  and  Essex,  in  New-Jersey,  pre 
sented  similar  petitions  to  that  of  Virginia  in  1772,  to  the 
Governor,  Council,  and  Representatives  of  the  Province, 
against  the  slave-trade.  The  inhabitants  of  the  city  and 
county  of  Philadelphia  also  petitioned  their  Assembly  against 
the  slave-trade,  citing  the  example  set  them  by  the  Province 
of  Virginia,  in  petitioning  the  king  "  from  a  deep  sensibility 
of  the  danger  and  pernicious  consequences  which  would  be 
attendent  on  a  continuation  of  the  iniquitous  traffic." 

*  On  the  adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  Congress 
was  authorized  to  prohibit,  at  the  end  of  twenty  years,  the 
importation  of  slaves  into  any  part  of  the   United  States ; 
which  power  was  exercised  at  the  appointed  time.* 

*  No   slaves,  then,  have   been   legally   brought  into  the 
United  States  since  the  year  1808  ?'  said  Caroline.    *  I  wish 
Congress  had  felt  authorized  to  go  one  step  further,  and  had 
fixed  a  time  for  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  our  land.     We 
should  not  then  be  the  reproach  of  the  nations.     England 
especially,  I  notice,  is  severe  in  her  allusions.' 

4  England,'  Mr.  L.  remarked,  '  has  of  late  appeared  dis 
posed  to  do  what  she  can  to  retrace  the  wrongs  she  has  oc 
casioned  in  her  West  India  colonies.  It  were  well  if  she 
could  undo  all  the  evil  she  has  done.  It  has  always  been 
easy  for  her  to  make  enactments  in  relation  to  her  distant 
colonies  ;  but  I  fear  that  placed  in  precisely  the  situation  in 


PLEA   FOR  AFRICA.  131 


England  has  abolished  slavery. — Claims  more  honor  than  is  due. 

which  by  her  reckless  avarice  she  has  involved  us,  the  poor 
slaves  might  find  as  tardy  justice  at  her  hands  as  she  charges 
upon  us.  *  Legislation  for  the  government  of  others,  is  des 
patched  sooner  and  with  much  less  difficulty,  than  when  the 
enactments  are  to  call  for  sacrifices  on  our  own  part.  But 
Britain  should  neither  be  reproached  in  this  matter,  nor 
utter  reproaches  against  others.  Reproach  uttered  by  her 
against  this  country,  comes  from  Aer,  surely,  with  peculiar 
ill  grace.  She  has  done  well,  I  hope  it  will  be  found,  both 
for  Africans  and  for  her  West  India  colonies  in  directing 
emancipation.  We  will  commend  her  for  the  good  done, 
and  pray  that  all  her  influence  may  favor  the  cause  of 
Africa  for  the  time  to  come.  Her  example,  it  may  also  be 
hoped,  will  influence  us  to  love  and  good  works.  Let  her 
remember,  however,  that  it  becomes  her  to  be  very  sparing 
of  reproaches  in  her  allusions  to  us.' 

Caroline  here  said  she  would  acknowledge  that  her  pa 
triotism  tempted  her  to  covet  for  her  country,  the  honor  which 
England  enjoys  of  being  first  in  the  work  of  universal  eman 
cipation,  notwithstanding  these  reproaches. 

'  That  is  intended  as  a  cutting  remark,  Caroline,'  said  H., 
*  which  we  were  noticing  this  morning,  from  the  pen  of  Mr. 
C.  Stewart,  who,  I  believe,  is  an  Englishman :  "  Shall  the 
United  States — the  free  United  States,  which  could  not  bear 
the  bonds  of  a  king,  cradle  the  bondage  which  a  king  is 
abolishing  ?  Shall  a  Republic  be  less  free  than  a  Monarchy  ? 
Shall  we,  in  the  vigor  and  buoyancy  of  our  manhood,  be  less 
energetic  in  righteousness,  than  a  kingdom  in  its  age  ?" 

*  There  is  much  .point  too  in  those  lines  of  Whittier,'  said 
Caroline : 

"  Shall  every  flap  of  England's  flag 

Proclaim  thai  all  around  are  free, 
From  '  farthest  Ind'  to  each  blue  crag 

That  beetles  o'er  the  Western  Sea? 


132  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


England's  example. 


And  shall  we  scoff  at  Europe's  kings, 

When  Freedom's  fire  is  dim  with  us, 
And  round  our  country's  altar  clings 

The  damning  shade  of  Slavery's  curse? 

Go — let  us  ask  of  Constantino 

To  loose  his  grasp  on  Poland's  throat — 
And  beg  the  lord  of  Mahmoud's  line 

To  spare  the  struggling  Suliote. 
Will  not  the  scorching  answer  come 

From  turbaned  Turk  and  fiery  Russ — 
1  Go,  loose  your  fettered  slaves  at  home, 

Then  turn  and  ask  the  like  of  us  ?'  " 

Mr.  L.  thought  we  should  take  an  enlightened  view  of  the 
subject,  and  not  be  too  much  influenced  by  the  sound  of 
words,  whilst  regardless  of  the  real  facts  and  circumstances 
of  the  case  ;  but,  feeling  fatigued,  proposed  they  should  now 
defer  the  conversation  until  to-morrow  :  and,  said  he,  as  the 
bell  rung  for  the  family  to  assemble  at  evening  prayers,  *  we 
will  remember  Africa,  and  remember  our  country  too,  in  our 
devotions.' 


CONVERSATION   XIV. 

"  We  have  found  that  this  evil  has  preyed  upon  the  very  vitals  of  the 
Union,  and  has  been  prejudicial  to  all  the  States  in  which  it  has  existed." — 
James  Monroe. 

1  WELL,  Caroline  and  Henry,  I  have  another  hour  for  Af 
rica — and  if  you  please,  we  will  resume  the  subject  of  our 
conversation.' 

Both  responded  at  once,  '  With  pleasure,  Pa.' 

'  Is  it  not  generally  supposed,  Pa,'  Henry  inquired,  'that 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  133 


The  government  of  the  U.  S.  cannot  legislate  for  individual  States. 

the  United  States,  as  a  nation,  cannot  in  good  faith  interfere 
with  the  question  of  slavery  in  the  several  States  where  slave 
ry  exists  ?' 

4 1  believe  that  it  is  generally  agreed  among  statesmen,' 
said  Mr.  L.,  '  that  the  time  and  manner  of  abolishing  slavery 
within  the  limits  of  individual  states,  must  be  left  to  their 
own  voluntary  deliberations.  The  federal  government,  it  is 
conceded,  has  no  control  over  this  subject :  it  concerns  rights 
of  property  secured  by  the  federal  compact,  upon  which  our 
liberties  mainly  depend.  It  is  a  part  of  the  collection  of  po 
litical  rights,  the  least  invasion  of  any  one  of  which  would, 
of  course,  impair  the  tenure  by  which  every  other  is  held. 
An  unconstitutional  interference  would,  therefore,  be  most 
disastrous  in  its  results. 

'  When  the  federal  compact  was  formed,  the  entire  aboli* 
tion  of  slavery  was  a  favorite  object  with  many ;  but  they 
knew  that  this  point,  or  the  Union,  must  be  surrendered.  As 
much  as  they  loved  liberty,  and  as  ardently  as  they  con 
demned  personal  slavery,  they  had  no  other  alternative  but 
to  leave  it  as  they  found  it,  existing  at  the  South,  or  fail  of 
the  great  desideratum  of  an  union  of  the  States.  A  compro 
mise  was  therefore  effected*  The  South  conceded  that  in 
twenty  years  the  slave-trade  should  be  abolished  ;  and  the 
North  conceded  that  the  CONSTITUTION  should  secure  to  the 
South  a  representation  in  Congress  of  three-fifths  of  their 
slave  population,  and  that  each  State  should  be  bound  to  sur 
render  to  the  citizens  of  other  States  such  fugitive  slaves  as 
should  be  found  within  their  limits.  In  addition  to  which, 
it  was  provided  that  the  United  States  shall  interpose,  on  re 
quisition  of  either  of  the  States,  to  protect  its  citizens  against 
domestic  violence*  These  principles  are  fully  recognized 
by  the  constitution,  and  as  good  citizens,  we  are  bound  to 

L 


134  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Rights  guaranteed  by  the  constitution. 


respect  them,  so  long  as  they  remain  a  part  of  the  constitu 
tion, 

« In  the  amendments  to  the  constitution,  the  effect  of  these 
provisions  is  confirmed,  by  the  declaration  that  all  powers 
not  conceded  to  the  United  States,  nor  prohibited  to  either  of 
the  States,  by  the  constitution,  remain  in  the  separate  states. 
Hence,  it  is  inferred,  that  as  the  constitution  gives  no  control 
on  this  subject,  the  regulation  of  domestic  slavery,  which 
was  the  exclusive  right  of  the  southern  states  before  the  con 
stitution,  remains  with  them,  as  one  of  the  powers  not  trans 
ferred  to  the  United  States.  The  legal  construction  is,  there 
fore,  that  the  states  holding  slaves,  retain  the  right  of  exclu 
sive  regulation  over  them,  which  right  the  United  States  can 
not  touch.  The  constitution,  as  it  now  stands,  renders  it  as 
improper,  it  is  contended,  and  as  unavailing,  for  the  non- 
slaveholding  states  to  attempt  to  interfere  with  the  regulations 
of  the  southern  states  touching  their  slaves,  as  it  would  be 
for  us  to  attempt  to  regulate  the  arrangements  of  the  British 
House  of  Commons,  or  the  doings  of  the  French  Chambers. 
And  if  the  United  States  cannot,  under  the  constitution,  in 
terfere  with  the  regulations  of  slavery  at  the  South,  still  less 
can  any  single  state  do  so. 

4  This  is,  I  believe,  a  fair  state  of  the  case,  nearly  in  the  pre 
cise  language  which  has  been  sometimes  employed  by  dis 
tinguished  civilians  on  the  question  of  state  rights.' 

4  May  not  the  constitution  be  amended  ?' 

4  It  may  ;  but  an  amendment  in  this  matter  would,  doubt 
less,  result  in  a  separation  of  the  states.  We,  then,  have  no 
means  of  reaching  the  evil  we  propose  to  remedy.  The 
South  will  become  to  us  a  foreign  government,  and  we  shall 
have  no  means  of  influencing  the  southern  states  in  regard 
to  their  slave  population,  more  than  we  now  have  of  influ- 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  135 


A  dissolution  of  the  Union  would  follow  an  infringement  of  the  constitution. 

encing  legislation  on  this  subject  in  the  island  of  Cuba.  The 
question,  therefore,  seems  to  be,  shall  we  have  a  union  of 
states,  or  shall  we  shipwreck  the  whole  on  the  question  of 
slavery  ?  Many  suppose  that,  in  this  dilemma,  we  should 
exercise  a  spirit  of  forbearance,  and  do  as  our  patriotic  fore 
fathers  did  in  their  determination  of  the  same  question.  And 
they  are  encouraged  to  assume  this  position  from  the  well 
known  fact  that  there  is  an  increasing  disposition  at  the 
South  to  be  rid  of  the  evil  of  slavery,  and  because  they  hope 
that  the  time  is  very  near  when  there  will  be  some  happy, 
united,  harmonious  and  final  movement  on  this  subject- 
Many  also  believe  that  a  disposition  on  the  part  of  the  North 
to  interfere  in  this  matter,  has  been  the  greatest  obstacle  in 
the  way  of  a  general  movement  in  the  South,  and  most  inju 
rious  to  the  slave,  whose  condition  it  is  the  object  of  such  in 
terference  to  improve.' 

*  As  Congress  have  control  over  the  District  of  Columbia, 
I  see  not  why  slavery  may  not  be  abolished  there.'' 

«  The  United  States,  it  is  true,  may  enact  such  laws  as 
may  seem  expedient  for  the  government  of  the  District  of 
Columbia.  Many  regard  it  as  a  dark  reproach  upon  our 
nation  that,  by  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  the  slave-trade 
is  permitted  to  be  carried  on  there.  It  has  been  said  that  the 
District  of  Columbia  is  "  the  principal  mart  of  the  slave-trade 
in  the  Union,"  and  that  the  public  prisons  of  the  District,  are 
used  for  the  benefit  of  the  slave-traders,  "  slaves  being  con 
fined  in  their  cells  for  safe  keeping,  until  the  drove,  or  cargo, 
of  human  beings  can  be  completed !"  But  even  this  reproach, 
which  has  been  declared  on  the  floor  of  Congress,  by  a  dis 
tinguished  representative  from  New-York,  "  unchristian, 
unholy,  and  unjust;  not  warranted  by  the  laws  of  God,  and 
contrary  to  the  assertion  in  our  Declaration  of  Independence, 
that  '  all  men  are  created  equal,'  "  others  contend  is  perpetu- 


136  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


District  of  Columbia. 


ated  by  injudicious  movements,  which  make  the  question  of 
slavery  so  deeply  exciting,  that  the  matter  cannot  at  present 
be  discussed  with  the  desired  success,  and  with  safety  to  the 
Union,  or  benefit  to  the  slave.' 

'  But,  Pa,5  said  H.,  *  we  cannot  but  be  interested,  deeply 
interested  in  the  subject,  although  it  is  a  question  that  affects 
the  South,  more  especially.  All  admit  that  slavery  is  a  great 
evil,  and  must  also  allow  that  it  afflicts  our  whole  country. 
It  is  a  national  blot,  inconsistent  with  our  professions,  and 
the  constant  occasion  of  alienation  between  different  portions 
of  our  country.' 

'For  my  part,  Henry,'  said  Mr.  L.,  *  I  feel  more  than 
ever  inclined  to  view  all  the  States  as  one  united  whole,  and 
hope  that,  as  a  whole,  they  will  long  be  consecrated  in  the 
affections  of  every  patriot. 

"  This  is  my  own,  my  native  land," 

is  a  sentiment  we  should  all  feel,  and  expresses  a  feeling 
which  I  am  sure  true  patriots  will  love  to  cherish.' 

'  But  I  really  think,  Pa,'  said  Caroline,  « that  the  South 
are  quite  exorbitant  in  their  claims,  if  they  require  us  to  be 
either  indifferent  to  slavery,  or  silent  and  inactive  when  we 
think  duty  to  our  country,  our  southern  brethren,  or  to  the 
slave,  calls  for  decision  and  action.' 

*  I  certainly,  think,  Caroline,  that  there  is  a  great  degree 
of  sensitiveness  on  this  subject  at  the  South,  and  they  may, 
in  some  instances,  seem  to  require  too  much  :  but  I  also 
think  that,  situated  as  they  are,  they  have  much  to  awaken 
their  suspicions  :  and  that  although  they  cannot  reasonably 
expect  us  to  be  indifferent  either  to  their  situation,  our 
country's  good,  or  the  slave's  best  interests,  and  probably  do 
not  claim  this  of  us,  we  are  bound  to  support  the  constitu 
tion  ;  and  to  respect  the  rights  which  it  secures  to  a  portion 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  137 


The  South  sensitive  ;  the  North  censorious. 


of  our  fellow-citizens  composing  a  part  of  the  Union  notwith 
standing.  It  appears  to  me  that  we  are  also  bound  by  the 
spirit  of  theconstitution,  as  well  as  by  Christian  principles, 
and  the  feelings  of  humanity,  to  abstain  from  all  inflamma 
tory  publications  whose  direct  tendency  is  to  excite  insurrec 
tion,  and  which  are  an  infringement  of  those  rights  which  the 
constitution  acknowledges  and  guarantees.  An  opposite 
course  may  justly  be  regarded  as  injurious,  not  only  to  the 
whites,  but  to  the  slave,  whose  condition  we  desire  to  im 
prove.  By  publications  or  movements  tending  to  excite  in 
surrection,  we  drive  the  holders  of  slaves  to  extremities — to 
enactments  and  to  rigorous  treatment  of  the  slaves  ;  even,  as 
we  have  seen,  shutting  from  them  the  light  of  life,  and  with 
holding  the  ordinary  means  of  instruction — that  is,  if  all  their 
enactments  are  meant  to  be  strictly  enforced.' 

« I  suppose  that  Caroline,'  said  Henry,  « refers  to  an  arti 
cle  we  were  noticing  this  morning,  in  a  southern  paper, 
which  asserts,  that  "  the  North  has  nothing  to  do  with  this 
subject  of  black  population,  and  all  their  solicitude  about  it 
is  meddling  and  officious."  ' 

*  The  evil  is  ours  as  well  as  theirs.  The  multitude  of 
blacks  which  the  severe  legislation  of  the  South  drives  into 
the  free  States,  alone  attests  that  we  have  a  share  in  the  evil. 
The  reproaches  which  are  cast  upon  our  national  honor,  tell 
us  that  we  have  something  to  do  with  slavery.  The  convul 
sions  which  reach  the  very  extremities  of  our  land,  and  often 
seize  upon  the  very  heart  of  this  great  republic,  and  anger 
our  national  discussions,  and  give  a  character  to  important 
events  and  measures,  show  that  we  may  not  be  indifferent  to 
the  slave  question.  It  has  been  remarked  by  a  distinguished 
scholar,  that  "  diseased  members  affect  the  entire  physical 
system.  Soundness  is  to  be  restored  to  the  limbs,  not  by 
excision,  which  would  both  destroy  them,  and  hazard  the 

L2 


138  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


All  are  interested,  and  prudent  measures  must  be  pursued. 

entire  body  ;  but  by  a  general  return  of  health,  and  a  genial 
circulation  to  the  whole." 

'  Another  reason  why  I  consider  the  evil  as  ours,  is  that 
the  guilt  of  slavery  is  ours.  We  are  too  ready  to  appro 
priate  it  all  to  our  southern  brethren  :  but  we  have  no  power 
or  right  thus  to  wash  our  hands.  From  the  North  have 
gone  ships  and  seamen  and  traders  in  human  flesh,  that  have 
been  polluted  by  the  inhuman  traffic,  and  the  "  pieces  of  sil 
ver"  gained  by  them  have  been  apportioned  at  the  North. 
In  the  North  were  the  forges  which  framed  fetters  and  mana 
cles  for  the  limbs  of  oppressed  and  unoffending  Africans.  It 
was  the  iron  of  the  North  that  pierced  their  anguished  souls  : 
and  overgrown  fortunes  and  proud  palaces  at  the  North  still 
stand,  reared  from  the  blood  and  sufferings  of  unhappy 
slaves,  which  tell  that  the  North  have  shared  largely  in  the 
accursed  spoils. 

*  Besides,  there  is  little  room  for  boasting  on  our  part, 
when  it  is  considered  that  the  different  physical  features 
and  agricultural  productions  of  the  South  and  North  have, 
as  we  have  every  reason  to  believe,  more  than  the  force 
or  absence  of  proper  moral  feeling,  banished  slavery  from  the 
one,  and  perpetuated  it  in  the  other.  Had  New- York,  New- 
Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  or  even  New-England  produced  cot 
ton,  rice,  indigo,  and  sugar,  it  is  not  improbable  that  slavery 
would  have  continued  in  these  States  and  increased  its  num 
bers  here  to  this  very  hour.  The  same  may  be  supposed, 
without  uncharitableness,  of  the  new  States  north  of  the  Ohio, 
and  east  of  the  Mississippi. 

4  There  can  be  no  good  reason,  I  conceive,  why,  by  fair 
argument,  by  our  best  influence,  and  by  our  pecuniary  re 
sources,  we  should  not  aim  to  promote  the  cause  of  patriot 
ism  and  humanity,  in  civilizing  and  converting  Africa,  and  in 
rendering  mutual  benefits  to  the  oppressed  among  us,  and  to 
our  beloved  country.  Nor  should  this  be  regarded  by  the 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  139 


Appeal  to  New-England. 


South  as  unrighteous  interference,  or  unkindness.     Great 
wisdom,  however,  is  to  be  used  in  this  matter. 

*  It  was  you,  Henry,  if  I  recollect,  who  were  repeating,  a 
few  days  since,  some  lines  as  an  appeal  to  the  North.     Will 
you  repeat  them  now,  as  they  are  not  an  unappropriate  con 
clusion  of  this  part  of  our  discussion  ?' 

*  They  were  written  by  Mrs.  Sigourney,  and  are  entitled 
"  an  appeal  to  New-England." 

"  When  injur'd  Afric's  captive  claim, 

Loads  the  sad  gale  with  startling  moan, 
:  ..        The  frown  of  deep,  indignant  blame, 
Bends  not  on  southern  climes  alone. 

Her  toil,  and  chain,  and  scalding  tear, 

Our  daily  board  with  luxuries  deck, 
And  to  dark  slavery's  yoke  severe 

Our  fathers  help'd  to  bow  her  neck. 

If  slumbering  in  the  thoughtful  breast, 

Or  justice,  or  compassion  dwell  ; 
Call  from  their  couch  the  hallowed  guest, 

The  deed  to  prompt,  the  prayer  to  swell  : 

Oh,  lift  the  hand,  and  Peace  shall  bear 

Her  olive  where  the  palm-tree  grows, 
And  torrid  Afric's  deserts  share 

The  fragrance  of  Salvation's  rose. 

But  if,  with  Pilate's  stoic  eye, 

We  calmly  wash  when  blood  is  spilt, 
Or  deem  a  cold,  unpitying  sigh 

Absolves  us  from  the  stain  of  guilt ; 

Or  if,  like  Jacob's  recreant  train, 

Who  traffic'd  in  a  brother's  wo, 
We  hear  the  suppliant  plead  in  vain, 

Or  mock  his  tears  that  wildly  flow  ; 

Will  not  the  judgments  of  the  skies, 

Which  threw  a  shield  round  Joseph  sold, 

Be  roused  by  fetter'd  Afric's  cries, 
And  change  to  dross  the  oppressor's  gold  ?"  ' 


140  PLEA   FOR  AFRICA. 


A  national  debt. 


CONVERSATION   XV. 


"  If  the  measure  is,  as  we  believe  it  to  be,  essentially  national  ,•  then  we 
are  all  interested,  and  should  be  deeply  concerned  for  its  success." — Gov. 
Trimble. 

*  I  DO  not  see,  Pa,  why  it  should  be  a  question  to  whom 
the  duty  belongs  of  helping  forward  this  good  cause  ;  nor 
why  every   citizen  may  not  esteem  it  a  privilege  and  an 
honor  to  do  justice  to  injured  Africa  ;  especially  when,  in 
performing  this  duty  we  act  a  filial  part  towards  our  own 
country.' 

*  The  debt  which  we  owe  to  Africa,  is,  indeed,  a  national 
debt ;  and  we  are  all  interested  in  its  liquidation.    If,  instead 
of  mutual  recrimination,  South  and  North,  East  and  West, 
could  combine  their  wisdom  and  benevolence  to  devise  ways 
and  means  for  the  ultimate  and  speedy  removal  of  the  evil, 
and  if  there  could  be  mutual  confidence  between  the  different 
sections  of  our  country  in  respect  to  this  matter,  I  see  not 
why  the  legislatures  of  the  several  States  then  taking  the 
lead,  our  National  Congress  might  not  come  up  to  the  work 
and  offer  that  national  atonement  which  every  consideration 
of  justice  and  humanity  would  commend,  and  which  would 
reflect  bright  honor  on  the  generation  that  should  do  the  deed. 
For  this,  if  the  South  prepare  the  way,  by  her  own  action 
and  example,  I  am  sure  the  other  States  will  not  be  backward 
in  their  duty  ;  and  the  debt  which  as  a  nation  we  owe  to  Af 
rica,  may  be  speedily  cancelled  by  us  as  a  nation.' 

'  Why,  Sir,  is  it  necessary  that  the  South  should  move 
first  in  this  matter  ?' 

'  I  know  not  that  there  is  any  other  necessity  in  the  case 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  141 


The  debt  may  be  cancelled. 


than  that  of  expediency  and  propriety.  It  appears  to  be  a 
point  universally  conceded  by  statesman,  that  the  continu 
ance,  or  removal  of  slavery,  is  solely  within  the  power  of  the 
domestic  legislation  of  the  State  in  which  it  exists.  It  is  very 
evident,  therefore,  that  we  can  accomplish  nothing  by  any 
measures  on  our  part,  except  as  the  South  approves  ;  whilst 
it  is  equally  evident  that  any  measures  on  our  part  of  a  coer 
cive  nature,  or  calculated  to  disturb  the  domestic  arrange 
ments  of  the  South,  would  be  a  violation  of  our  political  con 
tract  and  of  good  faith.' 

«  But,  Pa,  you  do  not  think  that  the  subject  of  slavery 
ought  not  to  be  discussed  even  publicly  if  we  please  ;  and 
that  no  arguments  should  be  used  by  us  with  our  southern 
brethren  to  encourage  and  persuade  them  to  correct  views 
and  early  action  in  respect  to  a  final  and  general  emancipa 
tion  ?' 

*  Certainly  I  do  not.  Dr.  Ghanning,  whatever  discrepan 
cies  are  found  in  his  recent  work,  has  clearly  expressed  my 
views  on  this  subject :  "  Slavery  ought  to  be  discussed. 
We  ought  to  think,  feel,  speak,  and  write  about  it.  But 
whatever  we  do  in  regard  to  it,  should  be  done  with  a  deep 
feeling  of  responsibility,  and  so  done  as  not  to  put  in  jeo 
pardy  the  peace  of  the  slave-holding  States.  On  this  point 
public  opinion  has  not  been,  and  cannot  be  too  strongly  pro 
nounced.  *  To  instigate  the  slave  to  insurrection  is  a 
crime  for  which  no  rebuke  and  no  punishment  can  be  too 
severe.  *  It  is  not  enough  to  say,  that  the  constitution  is 
violated  by  any  action  endangering  the  slave-holding  portion 
of  our  country.  A  higher  law  than  the  constitution  forbids 
this  unholy  interference.  Were  our  National  Union  dis 
solved,  we  ought  to  reprobate,  as  sternly  as  we  now  do,  the 
slightest  manifestation  of  a  disposition  to  stir  up  a  servile 
war.  Still  more,  were  the  free  and  the  slave-holding  States 


142  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


The  right  of  discussion. 


not  only  separated,  but  engaged  in  the  fiercest  hostilities,  the 
former  would  deserve  the  abhorrence  of  the  world,  and  the 
indignation  of  heaven,  were  they  to  resort  to  insurrection  and 
massacre  as  means  of  victory." 

*  The  right  of  discussion  is  sometimes  claimed  in  a  sense 
which  is  far  from  reasonable  ;  and  there  is  often  in  connexion 
with  this  claim  a  disposition  to  go  beyond  the  law  for  a  rule 
of  action,  and  to  justify  that  which  the  law  and  public  opi 
nion  condemns.     There  is  indeed  an  alarming  propensity 
among  men  at  the  present  day,  to  set  all  rightful  authority  at 
defiance,  under  the  dangerous  pretence  that  the  end  justifies 
the  means.     Even  that  liberty  of  speech  which  is  justified 
by  law,  it  is  not  always  expedient  to  exercise  ;  and  that 
which  is  clearly  inexpedient,  although  not  condemned  in 
civil  law,  is  morally  wrong.' 

'  But,  suppose,'  said  Henry,  '  that  I  find  slavery  forbidden 
in  holy  Scripture,  and  am  impressed  with  the  belief  that,  re 
gardless  of  consequences,  I  ought  to  assist  and  favor  the 
slave,  and  on  all  occasions,  to  resist  and  lift  up  my  voice 
against  the  institution  ?' 

*  If  we  suppose  this,  we  suppose  one  thing  which  it  may 
be  very  difficult  to  prove  ;  and  another  which,  if  reality, 
might  be  altogether  insufficient  to  convince  the  world  that 
our  impressions  have   any  claim  to    an    inspiration  from 
above,  or  that  they  clothe  us  with  any  authority  to  trample 
under  foot  the  rules  of  propriety  and  morality,  and  the  laws 
of  the  land.     It  will  never  do  for  us  to  be  guided  by  the  va 
garies  of  the  human  intellect.     One  person  thinks  that  there 
should  be  a  community  of  property ;  another  that  the  law  of 
marriage  is  a  monopoly,  and  that  all  contracts  under  that  law 
should  cease  at  the  will  of  the  parties  ;  another  believes  the 
law  which  punishes  the  felon  with  death,  involves  the  whole 
State  in  guilt,  and  that  capital  punishments  should  be  resist- 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  143 


That  which  is  inexpedient,  may  be  a  moral  wrong. 

ed  :  suppose  that  each  claims  an  unrestricted  right  of  discus 
sion,  and  becomes  the  open  and  fearless  advocate  for  his  pe 
culiar  opinion  and  its  legitimate  fruits,  would  such  a  course 
show  proper  respect  either  for  civil  law,  or  the  law  of  God 
which  requires  that  we  render  unto  Caesar  the  things  which 
are  Caesar's,  and  unto  God  the  things  that  are  his  ?     The 
Scriptures  do  not  undertake  to  legislate  for  the  nations  in 
respect  to  their  domestic  economy  ;  nor  do  they,  in  any 
case,    decide   the  question  of   property,   even   though  the 
question  relate  to  an  alleged  right  to  the  service  of  our  fel 
low-man.     They  recognize  slavery  as  existing  under  the 
Mosaic  dispensation,  and  also  under  the  Christian  dispensa 
tion,  and  direct  in  respect  to  the  duties  of  masters  and  of  ser 
vants  and  slaves,  without,  as  I  can  see,  in  all  this,  either 
sanctioning  slavery  as  just,  or  treating  it  with  direct  censure. 
4  What  the  law  of  our  land  is,  in  relation  to  slavery,  you 
well  know.     As  slavery  "has  existed,  in  all  time,  in  the 
fairest  regions  of  the  earth,  and  among  the  most  civilized 
portions  of  mankind,"  so  it  has  been  recognized  and  sus 
tained  by  law.     "  Our  own  government,  not  long  since, 
made  a  claim  on  Great  Britain  for  the  value  of  the  property 
of  citizens  of  the   United  States  in  some  hundred  human 
slaves.     The  principle  was  admitted  by  the  English  nation  ; 
the  amount  to  be  paid  was  referred  to  the  arbitration  of  the 
Emperor  of  Russia ;  the  claim  was  allowed,  and  the  money 
received  and  distributed  to  the  claimants  for  their  loss  of 
property  in  slaves."     The  principle  is  acknowledged  and 
guaranteed  by  our  constitution  ;  and  the  fact  is  recognized, 
and  the  existence  of  such  property  acknowledged  as  often 
as  a  runaway  slave  is  taken,  on  the  application  of  his  master, 
in  the  non-slaveholding  States.     "  Our  Supreme  Court,  re 
ferring  to  the  period  when  slavery  was  recognized  here  by 
law,  has  in  numerous  instances  adjudicated  important  rights 
on  the  doctrine  that  where  slavery  does  exist  or  has  existed 


144  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA, 


Rights  guaranteed. 


by  the  law  of  the  land,  such  law  did  admit,  and  must  now  be 
deemed  to  admit,  the  existence  of  property  in  human  beings." 
Property  is  thus  considered  "  the  creature  of  municipal  law  ;" 
and,  indeed,  property  of  no  kind  exists  without  law.  The 
laws  may  be  unwise,  impolitic,  unjust,  and  cruel ;  but  still 
they  have  their  effect;  and  although  "  arguments  may  very 
properly  be  urged  to  prove  that  the  laws  ought  to  be 
changed,"  yet  no  action  can  be  tolerated  in  society  which, 
while  the  laws  stand,  goes  to  make  them  "  inoperative  and 
void."  Good  order  requires  an  observance  of  the  laws  so 
long  as  they  remain. 

*  The  mere  right  of  discussion  is  unquestionable.  It  is 
well  declared  to  be  "  one  of  the  elements  of  public  liberty  ;" 
and  the  South  require  too  much,  if  they  demand  of  us  that 
we  shall  abstain  from  the  free  discussion  of  any  subject 
whatever.  Still,  the  legal  right,  "  like  all  other  human 
rights,  is  to  be  controlled  by  a  high  moral  responsibility  ;" 
and,  there  are  cases  where  **  the  expediency  of  the  exercise 
of  such  rights  may  become  matter  of  most  grave  considera 
tion."  It  is  very  clear  that  sweeping  denunciations,  harsh 
aspersions,  and  threatening  invective,  are  always  calculated 
"  to  produce  obduracy  in  error  and  resentment  for  indignity, 
sustaining  a  man  in  his  vices  even,  by  motives  of  supposed 
self-respect."  Slavery  is  now  permitted  in  fifteen  States  and 
Territories ;  and  the  amount  of  property  claimed  in  the 
slaves  in  these  States  and  Territories  by  five  millions  of  free 
men,  is  not  less  than  Jive  hundred  millions  of  dollars — 
some  estimates  say  $800,000,000  !  And  the  subject  calls 
for  much  consideration  and  forbearance  on  our  part,  lest  by 
our  injudicious  movements  we  protract  the  evil  which  we 
desire  to  see  come  to  an  end.  In  seeking  the  accomplish 
ment  of  any  great  object,  common  prudence  dictates  that  we 
take  mankind  as  they  are,  and  not  as  we  would  have 
them. 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  145 


Value  of  slave  property. 


1  It  is  an  indubitable  fact,  in  my  own  view,  that  such  may, 
through  the  force  of  circumstances,  become  the  state  of  so 
ciety,  that  great  moral  evils  may  be  tolerated  when  the  con 
viction  is  clear  that  acts  of  prohibition  would  produce  evils 
far  more  extensive  and  much  more  to  be  deprecated,  So 
deranged  and  disordered,  or  complicate,  by  the  practice,  or 
misfortunes,  of  a  former  age,  may  become  the  very  texture 
of  society ;  and  so  peculiar  the  relations  which  as  a  people 
we  sustain  to  each  other,  that  an  immediate  and  entire  cor 
rection  of  the  evil  may  be  impracticable,  and  that  therefore 
neither  individuals  nor  society  are  bound  to  attempt  it.  Such 
a  state  of  things,  however,  can  be  no  excuse  for  crime,  nor 
for  that  indifference  or  cupidity  that  would  tolerate  the  evil 
for  ever,  or  withhold  proper  effort  for  its  gradual,  judicious, 
and  effectual  removal.' 

1  The  supposition  which  I  made,  was  only  a  supposition,' 
said  Henry;  'the  country  has  been  greatly  agitated  of  late 
by  the  subject  of  slavery.  It  neither  seems  to  me  right  to 
interfere  with  the  southern  relations,  nor  to  resort  to  vio 
lence  to  suppress  the  liberty  of  speech.' 

*  The  acts  of  illegal  violence  and  shameful  outrage  which 
have  grown  out  of  the  excitement  kindled  on  this  subject, 
in  whatever  part  of  the  Union,  cannot  be  too  strongly  de 
plored,  nor  too  severely  censured,'  said  Mr.  L. 

/'j  t     .  t. . 

«  Why,'  said  Caroline,  •  did  not  our  fathers,  when  our  in 
dependence  was  asserted,  and  its  acknowledgment  obtained 
from  the  other  country,  make  provision  in  the  Constitu 
tion  ?  for  the  final  emancipation  of  slaves.' 

*  On  this  subject,  Gov.  Everett  of  Massachusetts  has  spo 
ken,  and  I  will  give  you  his  words  :  "It  was  deemed  a  point 
of  the  highest  public  policy,  by  the  non-slaveholding  States, 
notwithstanding  the  existence  of  slavery  in  their  sister  States, 


146  PLEA  FOR  AFRICA. 


The  Federal  compact. 


to  enter  with  them  into  the  present  Union,  on  the  basis  of 
the  constitutional  compact.  That  no  Union  could  have  been 
formed,  on  any  other  basis,  is  a  fact  of  historical  notoriety ; 
and  it  is  asserted  in  terms,  by  General  Hamilton,  in  the  re 
ported  debates  in  the  New-York  Convention  for  adopting 
the  Constitution.  This  compact,"  Gov.  E.  continues,  "  ex 
pressly  recognizes  the  existence  of  slavery ;  and  concedes 
to  the  States  where  it  prevails  the  most  important  rights  and 
privileges  connected  with  It.  Every  thing  that  tends  to  dis 
turb  the  relations  created  by  this  compact  is  at  war  with  its 
spirit ;  and  whatever,  by  direct  and  necessary  operation,  is 
calculated  to  excite  an  insurrection  among  the  slaves,  has 
been  held,  by  highly  respectable  legal  authority,  an  offence 
against  the  peace  of  the  commonwealth,  which  may  be 
prosecuted  as  a  misdemeanor  at  common  law.  Although 
opinions  may  differ  on  this  point,  it  would  seem  the  safer 
course,  under  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  case,  to  imi 
tate  the  example  of  our  fathers — the  Adamses,  the  Han 
cocks,  and  other  eminent  patriots  of  the  Revolution ;  who, 
although  fresh  from  the  battles  of  liberty,  and  approaching 
the  question  as  essentially  an  open  one,  deemed  it  neverthe 
less  expedient  to  enter  into  a  union  with  our  brothers  of  the 
slave-holding  States,  on  the  principle  of  forbearance  and  tole 
ration  on  this  subject." ' 

*  It  is  not  strange,  Sir,  that  the  South  are  unwilling  that 
strangers  should  intermeddle  with  this  part  of  their  domestic 
concerns.  Reasons  are  obvious  to  my  mind  now,  which  did 
not  present  themselves  before.* 

4  We  all  know  with  what  tenacity  mankind  are  wont  to 
cling  to  the  possession  of  •  whatever  is  called  property. 
Eight  hundred  millions  (for  we  have  to  do  with  facts,  not 
theories  in  this  case,)  is  a  vast  amount,  and  in  whatever 
light  we  may  regard  the  justice  of  the  claim  to  the  kind  of 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  147 


Difficulties  of  emancipation. 


property  in  question,  the  relinquishment  of  it  would  doubt 
less  be  regarded  as  an  enormous  sacrifice.  It  has  been  cal 
culated  that  putting  down  the  estimate  at  one  half  the  lowest 
value  put  upon  this  species  of  property  at  the  South,  that  is, 
at  250  millions  only,  instead  of  800  millions  ;  the  relinquish 
ment  of  this  amount  by  about  four  millions  of  freemen,  would 
be  equivalent  to  a  tax  of  more  than  one  hundred  millions  of 
dollars  on  the  six  New-England  States ;  and  divided,  it 
would  be  upwards  of  thirty-six  millions  of  dollars  for  the 
State  of  Massachusetts  alone  ;  and  four  and  a  half  millions  of 
dollars  would,  if  the  amount  were  assessed,  fall  upon  the  city 
of  Boston.  If  the  amount  were  divided,  the  whole  United 
States,  North  and  South,  agreeing  to  pay  the  amount  by  a 
general  assessment  for  the  indemnity  of  the  slave-holders, 
which  I  think  would  be  just,  the  quota  for  the  city  of  Bos 
ton  alone  would  be  nearly  one  million  and  eight  hundred 
thousand  dollars  :  and  the  State  of  Massachusetts  must  con 
tribute  seventeen  millions  and  a  half.  Says  the  gentleman 
of  Boston,  the  author  of  « Remarks  on  Dr.  Channing's 
Slavery,'  who  makes  this  calculation,  "  I  have  all  reasonable 
faith  in  the  generosity,  the  spirit  and  the  nobleness  of  my 
fellow-citizens,  but  if  it  were  asked  of  them  to  take  this  im 
mense  amount  and  pour  it  as  a  votive  gift  into  the  ocean,  or 
gather  it  and  burn  it  on  their  lofty  hills  as  a  beacon-fire  in 
honor  of  freedom  and  to  relieve  the  southern  slaves  from 
their  bondage,  who  ventures  to  believe  he  would  live  long 
enough  to  see  the  consummation  of  so  much  moral  glory  ? 
*  *  *  If  here  then,  where  there  is  such  an  abhorrence  of 
slavery,  where  there  is  so  much  high  principle,  where  so 
many  think  it  morally 'wrong,  there  would  be  found  some 
difficulty  in  obtaining  a  contribution  large  enough  to  purchase 
ease  to  our  own  consciences,  by  relieving  the  country  of 
this  iniquity,  what  may  be  expected  in  the  slave  districts, 
where  there  is  no  such  feeling,  and  of  whose  freemen  we 


148  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Difficulties  of  emancipation. 


ask  not  to  contribute  merely,  but  to  take  upon  themselves 
the  whole  load — to  reduce  themselves  to  want — their  families 
to  beggary  and  their  country  to  ruin  ?" 

«  Still,  /hope/  said  Caroline,  'that  we  may  live  to  see 
the  day  when  our  whole  country  will  be  ready  to  engage 
unitedly  and  harmoniously  in  this  good  work.' 

'  I  would  fain  indulge  the  hope,'  said  Mr.  L.,  *  notwith 
standing  all  that  is  now  most  discouraging.  We  must  re 
member,  however,  that  if  slavery  is  to  be  brought  to  an  end 
in  our  land,  in  a  way  that  shall  be  honorable  and  not  destruc 
tive  of  our  national  existence^  it  must  be  by  the  consent  of 
the  South..  A  dissolution  of  the  Union  and  civil  war>  perhaps 
a  servile  war  also,  would  be  the  inevitable  consequence  of 
any  coercion  on  the  part  of  the  non-slaveholding  States. 

*  To  return  to  the  motives  which  influence  the  Soutb — I 
was  goiag  also  to  mention  an  idea  prevalent  at  the  South, 
that  a  portion  "  of  the  land  is  susceptible  only  of  slave  culti 
vation,  and  that  without  this  kind  of  labor  their  fine  fields 
would  be  desolate."  This  idea,  whether  correct  or  not,  is 
doubtless  one  of  the  obstacles  in  the  way  of  abolition.  An 
other  difficulty  is  found  in  the  fact  that,  for  the  want  of  suffi 
cient  incentives  in  this  country  to  effort  and  virtue,  the 
emancipated  slave  generally  becomes  a  nuisance  and  pest  to 
society  ;  and  general  emancipation  without  colonization 
would  despoil  the  whites  at  the  South  of  the  land  of  their 
fathers,  and  drive  them  from  it ;  or  in  a  short  time  render  the 
South  one  "  great  prison-house"  in  a  far  different  sense  from 
what  it  is  at  present,  if  not  a  scene  of  butchery,  massacre, 
and  blood.  But  besides  these  considerations,  the  South  has 
become  extremely  sensitive  of  its  dignity  and  jealous  for  its 
alleged  rights ;  and  will  not  allow  the  least  interference  in 
respect  to  this  question.  They  will  not  suffer  dictation  or 
instruction,  and  they  will  scarcely  listen  to  reason  or  allow 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  149 


The  south  tenacious  of  its  rights. 


discussion.  Indeed,  the  South  may  be  considered  as  having 
pronounced  its  decision,  that  slavery  shall  not  be  discussed 
in  any  shape,  within  its  borders,  except  as  subject  to  restric 
tions  which  the  South  may  see  fit  to  impose.  The  reason 
assigned  for  this  is,  that  they  will  not  "  by  any  affectation  of 
liberality,  endanger  their  social  system."  Claiming  to  be 
sovereign  and  independent  States,  in  respect  to  this  part  of 
their  domestic  economy,  they  are  fully  resolved  to  resist  all 
encroachments  upon  their  prerogative ;  regarding  it  wrong 
for  one  State,  or  individuals  in  that  State,  to  interfere  with, 
or  in  any  way  interrupt  or  endanger  the  domestic  relations 
of  another  State,  as  it  would  be  for  a  foreign  power  to  inter 
fere  in  the  domestic  concerns  of  our  common  country.  An 
interference  of  the  latter  kind  would  stir  our  whole  country 
to  indignation.  Even  the  anti-slavery  mission  of  an  indivi 
dual  recently  sent  out  to  this  country  by  an  association  of 
females  in  Scotland,  was  not  tolerated ;  the  non-slaveholding 
States,  as  well  as  the  South,  were  moved  at  once  by  the  al 
leged  intrusion.  With  equal  disapprobation  do  we  listen  to 
the  threat  of  the  Irish  agitator,  and  his  coadjutors  in  Parlia 
ment,  "  We  will  turn  to  America  and  require  emancipation." 
What,  should  we,  believing,  as  many  do,  that  Ireland  is  in 
an  enslaved  condition,  form  societies  in  our  country  for  the 
establishment  of  universal  liberty,  and  send  agents  into  the 
British  dominions  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  Mr.  O'Connel1, 
or  others,  in  efforts  at  agitation  there :  how  would  our  phi 
lanthropy  be  regarded,  I  will  not  say  by  England,  but  by 
the  nations  ?  The  same  view  is  taken  by  the  South  of  any 
interference  in  the  northern  states  with  their  domestic  rela 
tions.  Nay,  they  go  further,  and  insist  that  inasmuch  as 
'•  our  constitution  was  a  compromise,  in  which  we  agreed 
that  each  State  should  in  its  own  domestic  affairs  be  sovereign 
and  independent,"  so  "  it  is  the  highest  infraction  of  all  moral 

•  2 


150  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


All  foreign  interference  inadmissible. 


principle  to  violate  the  obligations  which  our  contract  im 
poses  upon  u&."  And  with  the  same  view  of  moral  duty, 
there  are  many  at  the  North  who  abhor  slavery,  and  can 
truly  say  with  Cowper, 

"1  would  not  have  a  slave  to  till  my  ground," 

who  at  the  same  time  unhesitatingly  endorse  the  language  of 
the  Boston  Reviewer  incognito,  to  whom  I  have  already  re 
ferred,  but  all  of  whose  views,  in  extenso,  I  should,  be  un 
willing  to  adopt,  "  In  all  codes  of  morality  honesty  holds  the 
first  place,  and  I  deem  it  dishonest,  as  it  is  dishonorable,  to 
do  that  by  indirect  means  which  I  am  prohibited  from  doing 
openly  and  avowedly  before  the  world.  If  insurrection 
breaks  out — if  war  and  its  atrocities  are  the  consequence,  no 
drop  of  the  vast  torrent  of  blood  that  is  to  flow  shall  be  laid 
to  my  account.  *  *  I  cannot  reconcile  it  to  my  con 
science,  while  I  daily  and  hourly  enjoy  the  blessings  of  this 
republican  government,  to  take  back  any  part  of  the  price 
that  was  paid  for  it."  They  consider  that  the  present  slave 
holders  did  not  originate  the  system ;  and  that  they  cannot 
consistently  either  with  their  duty  to  the  slave,  their  coun 
try,  or  themselves,  change  the  present  state  of  things  in  a 
moment ;  and  that  they  alone,  on  whom  the  accountability 
rests,  must  determine,  in  the  sight  of  God,  and  in  obedience 
to  the  dictates  of  their  own  consciences,  when,  and  in  what 
way,  the  system  of  slavery  and  all  its  present  evils  shall 
come  to  an  end. 

*  The  opinion  of  Daniel  Webster,  expressed  not  long  sine* 
in  a  letter  to  a  gentleman  in  New- York,  and  published  with 
his  permission,  probably  expresses  the  sentiments  of  the 
North  generally  :  "In  my  opinion,"  says  he,  "  the  domestic 
slavery  of  the  southern  states  is  a  subject  within  the  exclu 
sive  control  of  the  States  themselves  ;  and,  this  I  am  sure,  is 
the  opinion  of  the  North.  Congress  has  no  authority  to  in- 


PLEA   FOR    AFRICA.  151 

The  constitutional  question. 

terfere  in  the  emancipation  of  slaves,  or  in  the  treatment  of 
them  in  any  of  the  States.  This  was  so  resolved  by  the 
House  of  Representatives,  when  Congress  sat  in  New- York, 
in  1790,  on  the  report  of  a  committee  consisting  almost  en 
tirely  of  northern  members ;  and  I  do  not  know  an  instance 
of  the  expression  of  a  different  opinion  in  either  house  of 
Congress  since.  *  *  The  servitude  of  so  great  a  portion 
of  the  population  of  the  South  is,  undoubtedly,  regarded  at 
the  North,  as  a  great  evil,  moral  and  political.  But  it  is  re 
garded,  nevertheless,  as  an  evil,  the  remedy  of  which  lies 
with  the  legislatures  of  the  South  themselves,  to  be  provided 
and  applied  according  to  their  own  sense  of  policy  and  duty." 
It  is  indeed  a  melancholy  consideration  that  domestic  slavery 
in  the  United  States  is  so  intimately  connected  with  civil  so 
ciety.  But  we  must  take  the  evil  as  it  is ;  and  seek  the  re 
medy  in  that  way  which  is  legally  and  morally  right,  and 
which  will  not  bring  about  a  greater  evil  than  that  which  we 
seek  to  redress.' 

*I  wonder,  Sir,  what  effect  the  discussions  which  are 
going  forward  have  upon  the  peace  of  mind  and  happiness  of 
the  southern  slaves ;  I  suppose  that  some  of  them  are  ae- 
quainted  with  the  agitations  of  the  times  V 

«  The  effect  of  movements  at  the  North  which  go  to  en 
danger  the  stability  of  southern  institutions,  on  the  condi 
tion  of  both  the  colored  free,  and  the  slaves,  is  seen  in  the 
severity  of  the  recent  legislative  enactments.  The  Editor 
of  the  U.  S.  Gazette  has  well  remarked^  that  one  can  scarcely 
read  of  these  proceedings,  without  being  reminded  of  the 
remark  (doubtless,  ironical  remark)  of  the  distinguished  but 
eccentric  John  Randolph,  when  some  anti-slavery  measure 
was  proposed  in  Congress — "  I  will  hurry  home  and  flog 
Juba."  The  effect  is,  that  as  movements  are  made  at  tha 
North,  which  are  regarded  by  the  South  as  prejudicial  to 


152  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Effects  of  discussion. 


their  interests,  they  proceed  at  once  to  "  flog  Juba" — in 
other  words,  pass  laws  and  keep  up  an  espionage  grievously 
oppressive  to  the  colored  people.  The  immediate  effect 
upon  the  mind  and  consequently  upon  the  peace  and  en 
joyment  of  the  slaves,  so  far  as  they  are  led  to  reflect  on 
their  condition,  is  far  from  contributing  to  either.  It  is 
impossible  that  they  should  be  indifferent  to  the  subject 
when  it  is  brought  before  their  mind ;  it  is  impossible  that 
they  should  be  otherwise  than  uneasy,  discontented,  unhap 
py,  inclined  to  revenge.  A  Virginia  free  black  has  said  in 
respect  to  the  laws  of  slavery  and  those  affecting  the  condi 
tion  of  the  free  colored  people,  "  these  things  were  never 
felt  or  even  known  by  us  until  our  northern  friends  brought 
their  existence  before  our  remembrance."  : 

4  But,  Pa,  is  it  not  a  fact,'  said  Henry,  « that,  if  all  in  the 
non-slaveholding  States  were  of  one  mind  in  reprobating 
slavery,  and,  supposing  it  proper  for  them  to  do  so,  were  dis 
posed  to  insist  that  the  South  shall  emancipate  their  slaves  ; 
the  slave-holding  States  are  not  so  much  in  the  minority  that 
it  would  be  possible  for  the  demand  to  be  enforced  ?  I  do 
not  imagine  that  such  a  case  will  ever  occur ;  but  a  supposi 
tion  of  the  kind,  and  a  correct  view  of  the  relative  strength  of 
the  parties,  it  appears  to  me  is  calculated  to  dissipate  every 
hope  of  truly  benefitting  the  slave  except  as  we  act  in  con 
currence  with  the  views  of  his  master.' 

4  The  slave-holding  districts  are  the  fairest  and  most  im 
portant  portion  of  our  country,  if  we  regard  the  extent  of 
territory,  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  or  the  increase  of  popula 
tion.  It  is,  of  course,  destined  we  should  suppose  to  extend 
its  influence  and  political  power  in  the  government  of  the 
country.  But  even  now  the  disparity  is  not  so  great  be 
tween  the  two  divisions  of  our  country  that  a  determined 
collision  would  not  be  most  fearful,  and  in  all  probability  de- 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  153 


Disunion  and  collision  would  be  madness. 


structive  to  both.  We  must  never  allow  ourselves,  how 
ever,  to  dwell  on  such  a  topic.  The  thought  is  too  painful 
— the  event,  we  will  hope,  can  never  be.  It  were  a  strange 
infatuation  indeed  that  should  lead  to  it — a  strange  patriot 
ism,  and  benevolence,  and  philanthropy,  indeed  ! 

*  We  will  close  the  present  conversation,  with  a  few  ex 
tracts  which  I  will  read  from  an  address  in  the  Richmond 
Enquirer,  which  the  editor  of  that  paper  says  is,  what  it 
purports  to  be,  the  production  of  "  a  Matron  of  Eastern  Vir 
ginia,"  elicited  by  discussions  at  Washington  and  else 
where,  which  she  regarded  as  of  a  "  highly  intemperate  and 
pernicious  character,  entirely  subversive  of  the  tranquillity 
and  happiness  of  society."  The  extract  will  serve  to  show 
more  clearly  the  views  and  feelings  which  prevail  at  the 
South.  "  As  a  daughter  of  our  eastern  Virginia,  and  there 
fore  most  deeply  interested  in  all  that  involves  her  interests 
and  prosperity,  permit  me  to  entreat  gentlemen  no  longer  to 
discard  all  prudential  considerations,  but  to  pause  and  calmly 
reflect  that  they  are  compromising  the  safety  of  millions,  by 
their  ill-timed  and  imprudent  discussions.  *  *  Shut  your 
eyes  no  longer,  my  countrymen — the  Union  is  threatened  ; 
and  all  the  blessings  it  confers,  and  which  our  fathers  suffer 
ed  and  died  to  attain,  must  perish  with  it.  Scorn  not  the 
feeble  voice  of  a  woman,  when  she  calls  on  you  to  awake- 
to  your  danger,  ere  it  be  for  ever  too  late.  We  are  told,  that 
the  citizens  of  the  North  would  arouse  our  slaves  to  exert 
their  physical  force  against  us — but  we  cannot,  we  will  not 
believe  the  foul,  shocking,  unnatural  tale.  What !  have  the 
daughters  of  the  South  inflicted  such  injuries  on  their 
northern  brethren,  as  to  render  them  objects  of  their  deadly, 
exterminating  hate  ?  Have  helpless  age,  smiling  infancy, 
virgin  purity,  no  claims  on  the  generous,  the  high-minded, 
and  the  brave  ?  Would  they  introduce  the  serpents  of  fear 
and  withering  anxiety  into  the  Edens  of  domestic  bliss  j 


154  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 

Disunion  and  collision  would  be  madness. 

bathe  our  peaceful  hearths  with  blood,  and  force  us  to  abhor 
those  ties  which  now  unite  us  as  one  people,  and  which  we 
so  lately  taught  our  sons  to  regard  as  our  pride,  and  the 
very  palladium  of  our  prosperity  ?  *  *  The  poor  slave 
himself  merits  not  at  their  hands  the  mischief  and  wo  which 
his  mistaken  advocates  would  heap  on  his  devoted  head. 
The  northern  people  are  too  well  acquainted  with  histori 
cal  facts,  to  condemn  us  for  evils  which  we  deprecated  as 
warmly  as  themselves,  but  which  were  ruthlessly  imposed 
on  us  by  the  power  of  Great  Britain."  Appealing  to  the 
North,  she  continues,  "  We  deprecate  slavery  as  much  as 
you.  We  as  ardently  desire  the  liberty  of  the  whole  human 
race ;  but  what  can  we  do  ?  The  slow  hand  of  time  must 
overcome  difficulties  now  insurmountable...  An  evil,  the 
growth  of  ages,  cannot  be  remedied  in  a  day.  Our  virtuous 
and  enlightened  men  will  doubtless  effect  much  by  cautious 
exertion,  if  their  efforts  are  not  checked  by  your  rash  at» 
tempts  to  dictate  on  a  subject  of  which  it  is  impossible  that 
you  can  form  a  correct  judgment.  Forbear  your  inflam 
matory  addresses.  They  but  rivet  the  fetters  of  the  slaves, 
and  render  them  ten  thousand  times  more  galling.  You 
sacrifice  his  happiness,  as  well  as  that  of  his  owner,  for,  by 
rendering  him  an  object  of  suspicion  and  alarm,  you  deprive 
him  of  the  regard,  confidence,  and  I  may  add  with  the  ut 
most  truth,  the  affection  of  his  master.  You  render  a  being 
now  light-hearted  and  joyous,  moody  and  wretched — yes, 
hopelessly  wretched.  You  wreak  on  the  innocent  and  help 
less,  who,  had  they  the  will,  possess  not  the  power  to  bid 
the  slave  be  free  from  all  his  imagined  wrongs.  You  agonize 
gentle  bosoms,  which  glow  with  Christian  charity  towards 
the  whole  human  race,  of  whatever  color  they  may  be. 
Fearful  forebodings  mingle  with  all  a  mother's  deep,  im 
perishable  love,  as  the  matron  bends  over  the  infant  that 
smiles  in  her  face ;  and  with  more  shuddering  horror  she 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  155 


A  Virginia  matron's  appeal. 


trembles  as  she  gazes  on  the  daughters  whose  youthful 
beauty,  goodness,  and  grace  shed  the  sunshine  of  joy  and 
hope  over  the  winter  of  life.  I  appeal  to  you  as  Christians, 
as  patriots,  as  men,  generous,  high-minded  men,  to  forbear. 
By  all  you  hold  sacred — by  your  own  feelings  for  the  wives 
of  your  bosom  and  the  children  of  your  love,  pause  and  re 
flect  on  the  mischief  and  wo  you  seek  to  inflict  on  both  the 
white  and  colored  population  of  the  southern  States." 


CONVERSATION    XVI. 

"  A  general  emancipation  of  slaves,  to  be  consistent  with  such  a  regard  to 
their  good,  and  the  public  good,  as  humanity  and  religion  demand,  must 
plainly  be  the  work  of  time.  It  must  be  accomplished  by  a  wise  system  of 
moral  influence  and  of  proscriptive  legislation,  and  must  allow  opportunity 
for  a  preparatory  change  of  the  habits  of  a  whole  community." — President 
Porter. 

1  You  have  intimated  in  former  conversations,'  said  Caro 
line,  '  that  there  is  a  disposition  among  good  people  at  the 
South,  notwithstanding  the  power  with  which  their  laws 
have  invested  them,  to  prevent  interference  on  the  part  of 
strangers,  still  to  treat  their  slaves  as  rational  beings,  and  to 
give  them  suitable  moral  and  religious  instruction.  I  wish 
this  fact  were  more  generally  known  at  the  North.' 

'  There  is  certainly,'  said  Mr.  L.,  «  a  pleasing  and  com 
mendable  spirit  exhibited,  after  all  the  precautionary  provi 
sions  of  legislative  acts,  by  the  Christian  community  at  the 
South,  in  respect  to  the  religious  instruction  of  their  slaves. 
I  have  before  me  a  letter  from  an  eminent  clergyman  of  Vir 
ginia,  a  part  of  which  I  will  read,  since  you  may  from  such 
sources  be  better  able  to  apprehend  the  true  feeling  of  Chris- 


156  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Moral  and  religious  instruction  of  slaves. 


tians  at  the  South,  and  the  actual  condition  of  the  slaves : — - 
"  To  give  you  an  idea  of  the  feeling  of  the  Christian  com 
munity  toward  that  unfortunate  class  of  people  which  we 
have  among  us,  I  would  refer  you  to  the  articles  which  ap 
peared  in  the  Religious  Telegraph  during  the  last  year, 
signed,  *  Zinzindorf,'  and  which  terminated  in  passing  a  re 
solution  in  the  Synod  of  Virginia,  recommending  every 
church  in  the  State,  to  set  apart  one  of  its  best  qualified 
members,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  give  religious  instruction 
to  the  colored  people.  And  I  am  happy  to  state,  that  many 
enter  upon  this  self-denying,  though  pleasing  duty.  The 
present  proprietor  of  Monticello,  (Jefferson's  seat,)  is  a  gen 
tleman  of  first  rate  talents,  wealthy,  and  a  man  of  influence. 
He  has  entered  into  this  business  with  all  his  heart.  He  has 
enjoyed  a  very  liberal  education  ;  but  he  thought  that  this 
was  not  sufficient  to  instruct  the  poor  African  in  the  great 
truths  of  the  gospel.  He  is  preparing  himself  with  a  theolo 
gical  course,  to  fit  him  the  better  for  this  responsible  duty. 
It  is  a  pleasing  fact,  that  the  first  proprietor  of  Jefferson's 
seat,  after  he  left  it,  should  be  a  man  of  such  benevolent  and 
devoted  piety.  We  hope  that  the  public  mind  is  fast  prepay 
ing  for  a  general  emancipation,  and  that  the  Christian  com 
munity  will  not  be  remiss  in  instructing  and  preparing  the 
colored  people  for  the  colony.  The  redeeming  spirit  is 
amongst  us,  I  hope,  and  will  not  rest  till  every  slave  shall  be 
restored  to  the  land  of  their  fathers,  and  this  State  placed 
upon  a  footing  with  the  other  happy  States  of  our  Union, 
who  know  not  the  curses  of  slavery." 

*  I  have  also  before  me  a  letter  from  Georgia,  written  by  a 
distinguished  gentleman  to  his  friend,  on  the  same  subject, 
which  reads  as  follows  :  "  With  regard  to  your  inquiries 
about  the  religious  instruction  of  the  negroes  of  the  South,  I 
would  state,  that  whilst  there  is  far  less  interest  on  this  sub 
ject  among  slave-holders  than  there  should  be,  still  we  have 


PLEA   FOR  AFRICA.  157 


Effort  at  the  South  for  the  instruction  of  slaves. 


much  reason  to  be  grateful  for  what  is  doing,  and  for  what  in 
prospect  may  be  done.  My  knowledge  on  this  subject  is 
confined  to  Georgia  and  South  Carolina ;  you  must  apply  to 
other  gentlemen  for  information  about  other  parts  of  the 
southern  country.  I  visited  Bryan  county,  Georgia,  a  few 
weeks  since,  for  the  exclusive  purpose  of  seeing  what  was 
doing  there  for  the  negroes.  On  one  plantation  I  found  the 
slaves  far  more  improved,  both  as  regards  their  temporal 
comforts,  and  their  religious  instruction,  than  I  had  expected 
to  see.  The  number  of  negroes  on  this  plantation  is,  I  be 
lieve,  about  two  hundred.  They  live  in  framed  houses, 
raised  above  the  ground — spacious,  and  in  every  way  com 
fortable,  and  calculated  to  promote  health.  The  negroes 
were  uniformly  clad  in  a  very  decent  and  comfortable  way. 
There  is  a  chapel  on  the  place  where  the  master  meets  the 
adults  every  night  at  the  ringing  of  the  bell.  Reading  a 
portion  of  Scripture,  and  explaining  it,  singing,  and  prayer, 
constitute  the  regular  exercises  of  every  night  in  the  week. 
On  the  Sabbath  they  have  different  and  more  protracted  ex 
ercises.  A  day  school  is  taught  by  two  young  ladies — em 
bracing  all  the  children  under  twelve  or  fifteen  years  of  age. 
The  instruction  in  this  and  other  schools  in  the  county,  is 
oral-,  of  course  ;  but  it  was  gratifying  to  see  how  great  an 
amount  of  knowledge  the  children  had  acquired  in  a  few 
months.  A  Presbyterian  minister  of  Philadelphia  was  with 
me,  and  he  said,  in  unqualified  terms,  that  he  had  visited  no 
infant  schools  at  the  North  better  conducted.  This  one  of 
which  I  speak,  is  on  the  infant-school  system.  Schools  on 
the  same  plan  are  now  established  on  the  several  other  plan 
tations  in  the  same  county.  And  I  think  I  may  say  there  is 
a  very  general  interest  getting  up  on  this  subject.  A  large 
portion  of  the  wealthy  planters  either  have  already,  or  con 
template  building  churches  on  their  premises,  and  employing 
chaplains  to  preach  to  their  slaves.  Several  I  could  mention 

N 


158 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


Religious  instruction  in  Georgia, 


who,  though  they  are  not  pious  themselves,  have  done  this 
already,  from  what  they  have  seen  of  the  beneficial  influence 
of  religious  instruction  on  the  slaves  of  other  plantations. 
Persons  at  a  distance  may  be  surprised  at  this  fact,  but  it  is 
so  in  a  number  of  cases  that  I  could  name,  if  it  were  neces 
sary.  Ministers  of  all  denominations  begin  to  awake  to  their 
duty  and  responsibility  on  this  subject.  Many  of  them  are 
now  devoting  themselves  wholly  to  this  portion  of  our  com 
munity  ;  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  every  Christian  master 
will  soon  be  brought  to  an  enlightened  sense  of  duty.  And 
if  we  are  allowed  to  prosecute  this  work  without  indiscreet 
interference  on  the  part  of  our  northern  brethren,  I  feel  as 
sured  that  we  shall  see  the  negroes  far  more  improved  in  a 
short  time  than  they  are  at  present." 

1  Of  the  religious  condition  of  the  slaves  in  South  Caroli 
na,  a  clergyman  in  that  State  writes  :  "  I  am  able  from  au 
thentic  information  to  say,  that  of  the  Jive  hundred  and 
eighty  thousand,  which  compose  the  entire  population  of 
this  State,  about  sixty-seven  thousand  are  members  in  the 
Baptist,  Methodist,  Presbyterian,  and  Episcopalian  churches. 
Of  these  communicants  more  than  forty  thousand  are  slaves. 
The  whole  slave  population  is  315,000.  It  is  easily  seen, 
therefore,  that  of  the  white  population  about  one-seventh  are 
church  members.  It  is  proper  these  facts  should  come  into 
the  estimate  of  the  religious  condition  and  prospects  of  our 
slaves.  In  New-England  there  are  twenty  thousand,  and 
in  the  free  states  a  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  blacks.  I 
should  be  glad  to  see  a  comparison  of  their  religious  condi 
tion  with  that  of  our  slaves  in  this  one  item.  Do  you  believe 
that  one-twentieth  of  them  are  communicants  ?  And  do  you 
believe  that  in  New-England  as  here,  there  is  a  larger  pro 
portion  of  black  than  white  communicants  ?  And  what  is 
doing  there  to  improve  the  moral  condition  of  the  blacks  ? 
The  religious  denominations  which  embrace  these  forty 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  159 


Religious  instruction  in  South  Carolina. 


thousand  black  members,  are  engaged  earnestly,  if  not  to 
the  extent  of  their  ability,  to  bring  the  saving  blessings  of 
the  gospel  to  the  souls  of  all  these  'heathen  among  our 
selves/  And  are  you  not  ready  to  say : — «  Go  on,  my 
brethren,  and  may  God  bless  you.  \Ve  would  rejoice  to 
help  you  if  we  could :  but  if  we  cannot  HELP  YOU,  we  will 

'LET  YOU  ALONE.'  " 

«  At  the  convention  of  the  diocese  of  the  Episcopal  Church 
in  South  Carolina,  in  1834,  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
take  into  consideration,  and  report  upon  the  subject  of  the 
religious  instruction  of  the  blacks,  at  the  next  convention. 
This  was  accordingly  done,  and  the  Bishop  was  requested 
to  address  a  pastoral  letter  to  the  diocese,  embracing  so  much 
of  the  report  of  the  committee  as  he  might  deem  expedient. 
In  compliance  with  this  request,  a  pastoral  letter  from  Bishop 
Bowen  was  published,  containing  much  valuable  and  appro 
priate  counsel  in  relation  to  the  subject,  urging  attention  to 
the  religious  instruction  of  slaves  as  the  imperative  duty  of 
every  master,  and  uniting  with  the  committee  of  the  conven 
tion  in  recommending  measures  for  its  due  performance. 
The  letter  says,  the  persons  by  whom  the  work  of  instruc 
tion  should  be  undertaken  are,  "1st,  The  clergy  with  their 
assistants  in  Sunday  schools.  2.  Lay  catechists  usefully 
employed  in  the  primitive  ages  of  the  church,  and  now 
rendered  absolutely  necessary  by  the  small  number  of  clergy. 
3.  The  proprietors  of  slaves  or  their  agents  or  overseers, 
with  ther  assistance  of  their  families.  The  method  recom 
mended  is  : — 1.  The  establishment  of  Sunday  schools,  with 
lectures  on  portions  of  Scripture  for  adults,  together  with 
classes  of  candidates  for  baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper,  to 
be  conducted  by  the  minister.  2.  The  employment  of  mis 
sionaries  for  the  colored  population.  One  of  the  clergy,  the 
committee  trusts,  is  as  '  usefully  as  he  is  honorably  employ 
ed'  in  this  way,  on  the  plantations  of  Messrs.  Clarkson  on 


160  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Religious  instruction  in  South  Carolina. 


the  Wateree,  and  the  hope  is  expressed  that  the  time  is  not 
far  distant  « when  the  Lord  will  put  it  into  the  hearts  of 
many  of  our  younger  clergy  to  devote  themselves  to  this  in 
teresting  work.'  3.  The  proprietors  of  slaves  are  urged  to 
personal  labors  for  their  spiritual  improvement,  and  each  one 
is  recommended  in  relation  to  the  measures  proposed,  to 
1  ask  himself  before  God,  is  not  this  my  duty  ?  And  then 
let  him  pursue  it,  convinced  that  however  great  his  dis 
couragement  may  be  at  first,  by  the  blessing  of  God  great 
good  must  ultimately  result.'  In  the  State  of  South  Carolina 
it  is  estimated  that  there  are  thirty  thousand  communicants 
belonging  to  the  slave  population.  '  Our  clergy,'  says  a 
zealous,  faithful,  and  highly  respectable  clergyman,  '  gene 
rally  pay  a  particular  attention  to  the  black  congregations. 
Many  of  them  give  the  entire  afternoon  of  the  Sabbath  to 
them.  Sunday  schools  among  them  are  almost  universally 
organized.'  It  is  also  well  known  that  in  religious  families, 
the  instruction  of  the  slaves  is  an  object  of  general  solicitude. 
It  is  by  no  means  unusual  for  individual  planters,  or  two  or 
more  in  connexion,  to  support  a  chaplain  for  the  exclusive 
benefit  of  their  colored  people." 

*  I  might  multiply  proofs  of  a  disposition  prevailing  ex 
tensively  at  the  South  in  all  the  States  to  give  to  the  slaves 
religious  instruction,  and  all  practicable  religious  privileges. 
I  think  the  general  feeling  on  this  subject  is  greatly  misap 
prehended  in  the  non-slaveholding  States.  The  evils  of 
slavery  are  great,  but  they  ought  not  to  be  magnified  either 
by  representing  the  slaves  as  deprived  of  all  religious  pri 
vileges,  or  their  masters  as  destitute  of  Christian  benevolence 
and  the  feelings  of  humanity.  The  South  are  lamentably 
deficient  in  this  point  after  all ;  but  I  wish  as  great  attention 
were  paid  to  the  souls  of  the  poor  blacks  in  every  free  State, 
as  they  receive  in  the  instances  to  which  we  have  referred  at 
the  South,' 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  161 


Colonization  tends  to  emancipation. 


*  I  have  understood,  Sir,  that  an  effect  of  colonization, 
since  Liberia  is  becoming  better  known  as  the  home  of  the 
free,  is  an  increasing  disposition  and  desire  on  the  part  of 
slave-holders  to  emancipate  their  slaves,  that  they  may  find 
an  asylum  in  that  land  of  freedom.' 

*  Yes ;   within  one  year  it  is  said  that  more  than  2,000 
slaves  have  been  offered  the  Colonization  Society  from  five 
different  States,  with  the  desire  expressed  on  the  part  of  both 
master  and  slave,  for  a  passage  to  Liberia.     As  colonization 
gains  ground,  the  freedom  of  untold  thousands,  it  is  to  be 
hoped,  will  be  secured,  and  Africa  gladdened  yet  more  and 
more  with  the  light  of  civilization  and  Christianity.' 

*  It  appears  morally  certain,'  said  H.,  '  that  the  bondage 
to  which  Africans  have  been  subjected,  by  being  torn  away 
from  Africa,  and  the  consequent  condition  of  many  of  their 
descendants,  will  be  overruled  by  a  wonder-working  Provi 
dence  to  the  christianization  and  salvation  of  not  a  few. 
There  is  this  fact,  at  least,  to  abate  the  painful  sensations 
which  the  thought  of  slavery  occasions.' 

1  You  remind  me,'  said  Mr.  L.,  '  of  an  anecdote  which 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Brown,  of  St.  Petersburg,  recently  related,  in 
the  course  of  his  speech  at  the  anniversary  in  Boston  of  the 
Massachusetts  Missionary  Society.  I  will  endeavor  to  re 
peat  it,  although  I  cannot  give  it  the  interest  and  effect  pro 
duced  by  his  recital :  "  Among  a  number  of  slaves  who  had 
been  re-captured  by  a  British  ship,  and  sent  into  Sierra 
Leone,  was  a  little  boy  named  Tom,  who  had  by  the  slavers 
been  separated  from  his  father  and  mother,  and  who  became 
an  object  of  the  particular  regard  of  the  missionaries  at  that 
station.  One  day,  after  the  hour  of  instruction  had  passed, 
the  voice  of  this  little  boy  was  overheard  in  a  retired  place, 
which  one  of  the  missionaries  happened  to  pass.  The  mis- 

is  2 


162  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Anecdote. — Slavery  overruled  for  good. 


sionary  at  first  thought  Tom  to  be  in  dispute  with  some  of 
his  companions,  but  on  listening  was  surprised  and  over 
joyed  to  find  him  earnestly  engaged  in  prayer.  To  attempt 
to  give  the  precise  language  of  his  broken  petition,  might 
make  it  ridiculous  ;  but  the  following  is  the  substance  of  it, 
as  related  by  the  missionary,  as  nearly  as  can  be  recollect 
ed  : — *  O  God,  me  glad  de  wicked  man  take  me  ;  me  glad 
King  George's  big  ship  take  de  wicked  man  ;  me  glad  me 
brought  here,  where  de  missionary  learn  me  to  know  God, 
and  de  way  to  heaven.  O  God,  cne  have  one  great  favor  to 
ask.  Me  pray  God  send  more  wicked  man  to  take  my 
father  and  mother.  Me  pray  God  send  more  King  George's 
big  ship  to  take  de  wicked  man  and  bring  my  father  and 
mother  here,  so  they  may  learn  the  way  to  heaven,  and 
father,  mother,  and  Tom,  all  go  to  heaven  together.'  A  few 
days  afterwards,  Tom  was  seen  upon  the  shore,  anxiously 
gazing  upon  the  boundless  ocean.  On  being  questioned  as 
to  his  object,  he  said,  '  Me  see  if  God  hear  prayer  ;  me  pray 
God  send  my  father  and  mother  here  ;  me  see  if  God  answer 
Tom's  prayer.'  Day  after  day,  full  of  faith  and  hope,  Tom 
paid  a  visit  to  the  sea  side.  Long  he  waited  for  an  answer 
to  his  prayer  of  faith,  and  his  father  and  mother  came  not. 
Yet  Tom  confided  in  the  faithfulness  of  the  God  whom  the 
missionary  had  taught  him  to  know  and  love,  till  one  day, 
when  many  months  had  expired,  he  came  running  to  the 
missionary,  clapping  his  hands,  and  exclaiming  in  an  extacy 
of  joy,  «  God  answer  prayer — Christ  hear  Tom's  prayer — 
de  big  ship  coming  to  bring  my  father  and  mother ;  O  Tom 
glad  God  hear  his  prayer.'  A  British  ship  had,  strange  as 
it  may  seem,  made  its  appearance,  and  soon  after  landed  a 
party  of  slaves  re-captured  from  the  '  wicked  man,'  among 
whom  was  Tom's  father  and  mother."  : 

1  God  can  indeed  bring  good  out  of  evil,'  said  C.,  *  and 
make  the   wrath  of  man   to  praise  him.      I  have  under- 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  163 


Christian  colonies  a  means  of  evangelizing  the  heathen. 

stood,  Pa,  that  the  colony  at  Sierra  Leone,  although  not  so 
favorably  situated  as  that  in  Liberia,  is  prosperous  ;  and 
that  the  church  mission  at  Sierra  Leone  has  been  greatly 
blessed.' 

Mr.  L.  replied,  '  If  I  recollect,  the  number  of  communi 
cants  at  the  church  missions  in  Sierra  Leone  is  between  400 
and  500 ;  attendants  on  public  worship,  3,000 ;  day  scho 
lars,  1,200.  The  divine  favor,  in  an  increasing  degree,  ap 
pears  to  be  vouchsafed  to  the  missionaries.  It  is  also  said 
that  the  Wesley  ans  have  penetrated  300  miles  up  the  Gam 
bia,  and  have  established  a  mission  in  the  centre  af  the 
Mandingo  and  Foulah  tribes.  Number  of  members  "  in 
society,"  about  800.  In  no  year  has  so  much  been  done  for 
African  colonization,  as  during  the  last,  and  to  give  a  per 
manent  foundation  to  the  colonies.' 

4 1  believe,  Sir,'  said  Henry,  '  that  the  plan  of  spreading 
the  gospel  by  the  establishment  of  Christian  colonies  in 
heathen  lands,  is  beginning  to  be  thought  much  of?  It  ap 
pears  to  me  that  the  success  of  the  missions  to  Africa  will 
have  the  effect  to  recommend  it  greatly.' 

Said  Mr.  L.,  *  the  Rev.  Mr.  Abeel,  missionary  to  China, 
has  remarked,  "  that  the  opinion  is  gaining  rapid  currency, 
especially  among  foreign  missionaries,  that  colonies,  Chris- 
tian  colonies,  are  demanded  in  the  enterprise  of  evangeliz 
ing  the  heathen.  Possessed  of  the  proper  spirit,  their  influ 
ence  is  incalculable.  The  power  of  a  righteous  and  holy 
example,  irrespective  of  all  other  benefits,  would  give  to 
communities  of  this  kind  the  relative  importance  of  a  sun  to 
the  dark  spots  on  which  their  light  would  fall.  They  would 
present  to  the  heathen  in  an  embodied  form,  the  lovely  and 
attractive  feature  of  Christianity.  They  would  exemplify 
the  practicability  of  those  lessons  which  the  gospel  incul 
cates,  and  show  their  incomparable  superiority  over  all  their 


164  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 

Christian  colonies  a  means  of  evangelizing  the  heathen. 

own  tenets  and  practices.  The  arts  and  customs  of  civilized 
life  could  in  this  manner  be  most  advantageously  introduced. 
All  the  useful  trades  and  occupations  among  us  could  be  em 
ployed  for  the  benefit  both  of  the  colonist  and  of  those  to 
whose  best  interests  they  had  devoted  themselves.  Added 
to  these,  and  perhaps  superior  to  them  all,  would  be  the 
direct  modes  of  bringing  truth  in  contact  with  the  minds  of 
the  heathen,  which  the  members  of  such  colonies  might 
employ,  and  which  might  be  multiplied  in  proportion  to  the 
number  of  adult  colonists.  Oral  teaching — the  distribution 
of  books — the  instruction  of  the  young  in  seminaries  of 
every  variety — from  the  infant  school  through  all  the  inter 
mediate  departments — to  the  colleges  and  even  theological 
institutions,  would  employ  all  the  time  of  some,  and  the 
leisure  hours  of  others,  to  the  greatest  advantage.  One  or 
dained  missionary  could  keep  a  hundred  assistants  engaged, 
though  their  labors  were  the  most  signally  blessed.  That 
which  engrosses  the  missionary  is  the  simple  elementary 
instruction  in  Christianity,  which  any  layman  could  perform 
with  equal  propriety  and  effect.  Formal  preaching,  and  the 
administration  of  the  sacraments  requires  but  one  man  to  a 
station.  If  the  children  of  such  colonists  were  sanctified 
to  the  great  work  in  which  all  around  them  were  employed, 
their  services  would  be  incalculable.  The  language  would 
come  to  them  by  intuition  and  in  its  perfection." 

*  I  suppose,  Sir,'  said  H.,  '  that  there  is  no  hope  of  the 
evangelizing  of  Africa  except  by  colonization  ?' 

4  No,'  said  Mr.  L.,  '  the  situation  of  Africa  is  peculiar. 
The  necessity  of  missionary  operations  through  the  aid  of 
colonies,  Mr.  Pinney  late  Governor  of  Liberia,  who  went 
out  as  a  missionary,  has  well  illustrated  in  the  following 
language  :  "  In  view  of  the  melancholy  state  of  the  African 
race,  my  mind  was  directed  to  the  importance  of  lifting  the 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  165 


Christian  Colonies. 


standard  of  Christianity  in  the  heart  of  that  benighted  land, 
and  of  endeavoring  thus  to  stay  the  desolating  progress  of 
Mohammedanism  among  the  countless  millions  of  her  chil 
dren.  »I  went  to  Africa,  and  while  waiting  at  the  colony, 
such  a  view  was  presented  to  my  mind  of  the  obstacles  now 
existing  to  the  progress  of  a  missionary  in  the  interior,  as 
well  as  of  the  great  benefit  the  cause  of  future  missions 
might  derive  from  such  a  colony  on  the  coast,  as  a  gate  of 
entrance,  and  a  place  of  protection,  that  I  became  satisfied 
the  best  and  wisest  course  would  be  to  have  our  missions 
commenced  around  the  colony,  among  those  of  the  neigh 
boring  tribes  who  were  friendly  to  the  new  comers  on  their 
continent.  I"am  aware  that  God  has  all  power,  that  should 
he  send  men  among  hungry  and  ravenous  lions,  as  he  sent 
Daniel,  he  can  now,  as  he  did  then,  close  their  mouths,  so 
that  they  shall  not  touch  his  prophets  to  do  them  harm.  I 
will  admit,  further,  that  missionaries  might,  if  possessed  of 
the  dove-like  spirit  of  the  gospel,  make  their  way  unharmed 
through  the  most  savage  tribes,  and  might  live  in  safety 
among  them,  yet  this  is  not  the  case  in  Africa.  The  mis 
sionary  among  the  native  tribes  may  not  inaptly  be  compar 
ed  to  a  traveller  who  lies  down  to  sleep  beneath  a  tree  with 
a  hornet's  nest  above  him.  The  hornets  will  not  assail  him. 
He  might  sleep  there  all  the  year  without  being  annoyed  by 
them.  But  let  some  mischievous  boys  pass  by  and  attack 
the  nest  with  stones  and  clubs,  can  he  sleep  in  safety  then  ? 
No  :  the  hornets  will  confound  him  with  their  enemies,  and 
will  set  upon  him  and  sting  him  to  death.  Just  so  a  mis 
sionary,  or  a  company  of  missionaries,  going  alone  among 
the  African  tribes,  might  remain  there  without  harm  or 
danger.  But  let  the  slave-trader  come,  and  the  state  of 
things  will  soon  be  changed.  He  will  poison  the  minds  of 
the  natives  with  suspicion,  and  in  a  little  while  they  will  be 
persuaded  that  the  missionaries  are  their  worst  enemies,  and 


166  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Christian  Colonies. 


as  such  will  destroy  them.  How  was  it  with  Lander  ?  He 
was  received  and  treated  in  the  most  friendly  and  hospitable 
manner  by  the  tribes  in  the  interior,  and  so  continued  to  be 
treated  wherever  he  came,  until  he  had  approached  within 
about  twenty  or  twenty-five  miles  of  the  sea  coast.  There 
he  met  the  influence  of  the  traders  ;  and  he  soon  found  the 
character  of  the  natives  entirely  changed  ;  and  the  cause  was 
soon  manifest  enough,  in  the  presence  of  an  hundred  slave 
ships  on  the  coast.  Here  the  same  spirit,  ever  hostile,  and 
ever  on  the  watch,  will  present  obstacles  to  the  progress  and 
success  of  the  missionary,  unless  some  visible  power  shall 
be  established  for  his  protection.  Such  a  power  is  to  be 
found  at  the  colony,  and  it  will  increase  and  extend  its  in 
fluence  as  the  colony  shall  become  more  flourishing  and 
better  known." 

'  Christian  colonies,'  Mr.  L.  continued,  '  are  of  great  ad 
vantage  in  the  work  of  evangelizing  the  benighted,  under  any 
circumstances  ;  especially  when  they  are  of  the  same  race 
with  those  whose  benefit  is  sought.  Let  me  quote  once 
again  from  Mr.  Pinney.  I  read  from  his  recent  address  in 
New-York,  as  reported  for  the  New-York  Observer:  "  The 
colony  planted  on  the  shores  of  Africa  is  calculated  to  prove 
a  great  benefit  to  the  natives  of  that  continent,  even  should 
they  never  obtain  the  blessings  of  the  gospel ;  but  that  colony 
is  calculated  to  be  the  great  instrument,  in  the  hand  of  divine 
Providence,  in  opening  the  way  for  the  introduction  of  the 
gospel  into  that  continent :  and  as  such  I  uphold  it.  I  do 
think  that  in  addition  to  all  the  incidental  good  it  has  effected 
it  will  be  the  chief  means  of  commencing  and  sustaining  the 
work  of  African  missions.  Our  great  object,  -beyond  and 
over  and  above  all  incidental  and  lesser  good,  is  to  convert 
the  population  of  the  African  continent.  We  seek  to  strike 
the  manacles  off  from  the  millions  of  her  slaves,  and  I  believe 
this  colony  is  the  means  ordained  of  God  to  do  it.  The 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  167 


Christian  Colonies. 


great  difficulty,  thus  far,  in  the  progress  of  Christian  mis 
sions,  has  been  to  adapt  the  men  to  the  work.     You  may 
take  the  ablest  student  from  your  theological  seminary,  and 
there  let  him  spend  two  years  in  acquiring  something  of  the 
language  of  the  country  :  and  when  you  have  done,  he  is  still 
a  stranger  and  a  foreigner.     He  cannot  feel  with  the  native 
inhabitants.     He  is  not  one  of  them  :  and  nothing  can  make 
him  like  them.     But,  if  it  were  otherwise,  there  is  another 
difficulty  in  the  way ;  you  cannot  get  enough  men  for  the 
work.     In  Bombay   the   missionaries  labored   for   twenty 
years  and  scarce  any  conversions  were  effected ;  and  why  ? 
the  missionaries  not  being  sufficiently  numerous,  had  to  em 
ploy  Jews  and  Mohammedans  as  teachers  in  their  schools. 
These  men  taught,  indeed,  the  lessons  they  were  employed 
to  teach  ;  but  they  taught  the  children,  at  the  same  time,  that 
all  they  learned  was  nothing  but  lies.  But  in  Africa  we  shall 
soon  be  freed  from  both  these  difficulties.     Let  the  work  of 
colonization  go  on  and  be  blessed  of  heaven  to  prosper  as  it 
has  done  thus  far,  and  in  the  course  of  twenty  years,  we 
shall  have  there  50,000  pious  men  from  the  United  States. 
With  an  ordinary  blessing,  we  shall  be  able  soon  to  send 
forth  ten  thousand  Christian  missionaries,  who  will  go  to 
10,000   African  villages,  which  will  be  prepared,  willing, 
and  anxious  to  receive  them.     Noble,  glorious  prospect ! 
We  have  the  material  to  form  the  workmen,  and  we  have 
people  apt,  and  easy,  comparatively,  to  be  worked  upon.  In 
most  other  heathen  countries  the  missionary  has  to  meet  and 
to  encounter  not  only  the  opposition  of  the  carnal  heart,  but 
ancient  institutions  fortified  by  laws  and  deprived  custom, 
and  guarded  on  every  side  by  an  interested,  depraved  and 
artful  priesthood.     In  China  he  meets  with  iron  bars  across 
his  way,  with  all  the  strength  of  the  government  openly 
against  him.     In  Hindostan  he  meets  all  the  force  of  caste 
and  all  the  mighty  influence  of  an  ancient  prescriptive  idola- 


168  PLEA   FOR  AFRICA. 


Christian  Colonies. 


try,  which  is  identified  with  all  the  habits  of  life*  But  in 
Africa  it  is  not  so.  The  missionary  must,  indeed,  meet  the 
carnal  heart :  but  that  is  all  he  has  to  meet.  The  African 
people  have  no  idolatry  to  be  given  up.  They  acknowledge 
one  God,  though  they  do  not  know  who  or  what  or  where 
he  is ;  and  they  do  not  worship  him  save  as  a  principle  of 
evil  which  it  is  their  interest  to  propitiate.  With  this  view 
they  make  an  occasional  offering,  and  purchase  various 
charms  and  amulets  as  preservatives  against  evil.  But  they 
never  think  of  such  a  thing  as  worshipping  an  idol.  This 
very  destitution  of  all  system  of  religion  pre-occupying  their 
mind,  opens,  at  once,  a  wide  door  for  missionary  effort. 
And  the  colony  is  the  very  source  from  which  we  may  ex 
pect  a  supply  of  missionaries.  It  is  calculated  to  exert  a 
mighty  influence  for  good."  ' 


CONVERSATION   XVII. 


"Tis  liberty  alone  that  gives  the  flow'r 

Of  fleeting  life  its  lustre  and  perfume; 

And  we  are  weeds  without  it.    All  constraint, 

Except  what  wisdom  lays  on  evil  men, 

Is  evil ;  hurts  the  faculties  ;  impedes 

Their  progress  in  the  road  of  science  ;  blinds 

The  eye-sight  of  discovery  :  and  begets 

In  those  who  suffer  it,  a  sordid  mind, 

Bestial,  a  meagre  intellect,  unfit 

To  be  the  tenant  of  man's  noble  form." — Cowper. 

•  AFTER  all,  Pa,  it  appears  to  me,'  said  Henry,  « that  it  is 
more  than  freedom  that  is  necessary  to  raise  the  African  in 
the  scale  of  being,  and  make  him  respected  and  happy. 
How  many  negroes  there  are  in  this  country  that  are  free 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  109 


Freedom  alone  will  not  elevate  the  blacks. 


and  yet  are  quite  as  degraded  as  the  slaves  !  Emancipation, 
it  seems  to  me,  is  but  a  small  part  of  the  duty  to  which  hu 
manity  calls  us.' 

*  Yes,  Pa,'  said  Caroline,  '  I  have  thought  that  the  blacks, 
even  at  the  North,  are  generally  very  degraded  and  misera 
ble  ;  and  I  have  been  told  that  the  free  blacks  at  the  South 
are  even  more  grovelling  and  abandoned  in  their  morals  than 
the  slaves.' 

*  It  is  true,  my  children,  that  whilst  there  are  in  the  United 
States  300,000  persons  of  African  origin  who  have  the  name 
of  being  free,  they  are  generally  wretched.     But  we  should 
remember  that  is  because  invincible  prejudice  is  continually 
pressing  them  down,  and  paralyzing  all  the  energies  of  their 
nature.     There  are  circumstances  which  seem  to  check  and 
utterly  forbid,  in  most  cases,  every  rising  emotion  of  ambi 
tion.    They  have,  in  truth,  neither  home,  country,  or  motive 
to  effort.     Let  the  white  man  be  similarly  situated,  genera 
tion  after  generation  growing  up  in  ignorance  and  disgrace  ; 
and  see  if,  in  the  lapse  of  time,  he  and  his  descendants  are 
not  wretched,   their  thoughts  grovelling,  and  morals  aban 
doned.' 

*  Why,  as  to  that,'  said  H.,  « I  do  not  think  the  blacks  are 
more  degraded  than  many  whites,    I  have  heard  it  remarked, 
that  at  the  South  even  the  slaves  consider  it  a  degradation  to 
associate  with  the  lowest  class  of  whites,' 

*  It  has  been  said  that,  at  the  South,  there  are  three  great 
classes — the  respectable  whites,  the  negroes,  and  the  igno 
rant,  or  vicious  and  degraded  whites  ;   the  last  being  lowest 
in  the  scale  of  respectability  and  moral  worth.    At  the  South, 
the  line  of  demarkatiori  is  more  clearly  drawn  between  the 
respectable  and  the  degraded,  than  in  the  northern  States. 
The  white  man  who,  at  the  South,  cannot  find  a  comfortable 
support,  and  maintain  a  respectable  standing  in  society,  is 

o 


170  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


No  stimulus  to  effort,  and  opportunity  for  distinction. 

generally  obnoxious  to  the  suspicion  of  other  causes  of  po 
verty  and  degradation  than  misfortune ;  whilst  there  is  far 
greater  equality  than  with  us,  among  the  respectable  portion 
of  the  community. 

*  To  return  to  your  remark,  about  the  unhappy  condition 
of  the  free  blacks.  We  admit  that  it  is  correct ;  but  let  me 
ask  if  it  is  not  strange  that  the  blacks  are  not  even  more  de 
graded  than  they  are.  I  do  not  think  that  either  free  or  slave 
will  suffer  in  comparison  with  the  whites,  allowing  for  all 
the  circumstances  which  have  led  to  the  present  condition  of 
the  blacks.  The  free,  however,  it  must  be  confessed,  are 
generally  more  sunken  to  a  level  with  the  brute,  than  the 
slave.  They  are,  as  a  whole,  exceeding  corrupt,  depraved, 
and  abandoned.  There  are  many  honorable  exceptions  among 
them,  and  it  is  often  a  pleasure  which  I  enjoy  of  bearing  tes 
timony  to  these  exceptions;  but  the  vicious. and  degraded 
habits  and  propensities  of  this  class,  are  known  to  every  man 
of  attentive  observation, 

'  The  characters  of  men  for  active  industry,  enterprise, 
and  external  morality,  to  say  the  least,  always  depend,  more 
than  is  generally  supposed,  upon  the  circumstances  in  which 
they  are  placed.  Among  the  causes  which,  probably,  ope 
rate  most  powerfully  on  the  character,  is  early  encourage 
ment.  The  child  who  is  taught  to  expect  and  attempt  great 
things,  is  most  likely  to  imbibe  a  generous  spirit  of  enter 
prise.  It  is  the  encouragement,  the  hope  of  attaining  to 
some  degree  of  excellence  or  measure  of  prosperity,  which 
is  wont  to  develope  genius  and  make  the  man.  But  what 
hopes  are  before  the  minds  of  the  children  of  our  colored 
population,  as  motives  to  aim  at  an  elevated  standing  in  so 
ciety  ?  What  honorable  employment  to  which  the  genius 
might  happen  to  be  suited,  can  be  promised  ?  To  what  cir 
cle  of  friendship  and  respectability  whose  cultivated  minds 
and  purity  of  morals  may  operate  as  a  stimulus,  can  the  chil- 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  171 


Cannot  rise  or  be  happy  here. 


dren  of  a  colored  skin  be  introduced  ?  Can  the  parents  of 
those  children,  affording  powerful  motives  in  their  own  suc 
cess  and  example,  point  to  the  successful  merchant,  the  dis 
tinguished  statesman,  the  eminent  scholar,  or  physician,  or 
divine,  and  say,  you  have  the  prospect  of  rising,  with  equal 
industry  and  merit,  to  a  level  with  those  ?  Alas !  they  must, 
at  best,  be  hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of  water.  The  bar, 
the  pulpit,  the  legislative  hall,  the  circles  of  refinement,  and 
respectability,  and  honor,  are  shut  to  them,  by  that  which 
is  irresistible — the  force  of  public  sentiment.  They  are  de 
nied,  by  invincible  prejudice,  the  advantages  of  other  free 
men,  and  no  talents  however  great,  no  piety  however  pure 
and  devoted,  no  patriotism  however  ardent,  can  lift  them 
above  this  cruel  fate.  They  hear  the  accents,  they  behold 
the  triumphs,  of  liberty ;  but  they  cannot  enjoy  it  as  do  we. 
In  all  the  walks  of  life,  in  every  society,  on  every  path  which 
lies  before  others  to  honor  and  fame  and  glory,  a  moral  in 
cubus  pursues  and  fastens  upon  them.  A  great  man  among 
ourselves,  has  said,  "  Their  condition  is  worse  than  that 
of  the  fabled  Tantalus,  who  never  could  grasp  the  fruits 
and  water  which  seemed  within  his  reach.  And  when  they 
die, 

*  Memory  o'er  their  tomb  no  trophies  raises.' " 

'  Their  degradation  is  the  natural  consequence  of  their  un 
fortunate  situation,  and  not  the  result  of  any  inherent  de 
pravity  in  their  natural  constitution,  or  of  deficiency  of  mental 
faculties.  They  are  as  capable,  I  verily  believe,  (and  I  hope 
that  by  observation  and  by  reading,  if  not  by  our  conversa 
tions,  this  conviction  will  be  fastened  on  your  mind,)  of  the 
finest  sensibilities  as  we  are ;  as  capable  of  appreciating  and 
enjoying  the  endearing  relations  and  blessings  of  life;  as 
capable  of  self-government,  and  eminent  attainments  in  know 
ledge,  usefulness,  piety,  and  respectability.,  But  do  what 


172  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Claims  of  the  American  Colonization  Society. 


they  will,  there  is  here,  comparatively,  only  one  prospect 
before  them.  This  is  true  in  respect  to  the  free  negro, 
and  it  cannot  be  supposed  to  be  otherwise  in  respect  to  the 
slave.' 

4  It  seems  to.  me  that  we  can  hardly  hope,  under  such  cir 
cumstances,  that  they  will  ever  be,  in  this  country,  what  they 
should  desire  to  be,  and  aspire  after.  And  this  is  the  rea 
son,  I  suppose,  why  so  many  who  appear  to  feel  for  their 
unhappy  condition,  are  in  favor  of  their  colonizing  in 
Africa  ?' 

*  It  is  for  this  reason,  and  also  for  others  in  connexion-— 
the  benefits  that  will  result  to  Africa  from  such  an  enterprise, 
and  the  best  interests  of  our  own  country — that  African  co 
lonization  is  warmly  advocated  by  many.     The  object  is 
thought  to  have  powerful  claims  to  our  best  and  warmest 
wishes,  and  untiring  efforts,  whether  we  consult  the  best  in 
terests  of  the  free  blacks,  the  slaves,  the  whites,  or  the  many 
millions  scattered  over  the  dark  continent  of  Africa.' 

'  I  do  not  see  why  they  should  desire,  under  such  circum 
stances,  to  remain,  or  why  any  should  oppose  their  location 
on  a  more  genial  soil.  Why  should  they  not  wish  to  go  to 
the  country  of  their  forefathers  ?' 

*  I  am  by  no  means  a  party  man,  in  respect  to  this  sub 
ject,  and  I  hope  not  on  any  subject;  but  I  acknowledge  that 
the  AMERICAN  COLONIZATION  SOCIETY  has  claims  to  my 
high  regard  and  best  desires  for  its  success  and  prosperity. 
There  is  much  need,  doubtless,  of  that  wisdom  which  God 
imparts  to  them  that  seek  it,  to  direct  in  this  matter,  for  great 
interests  are  involved,  and  the  question  is  exceeding  com 
plicate  in  its  bearings.     There  is  need  also  of  a  spirit  of 
meekness,  and  kindness,  and  forbearance,  in  its  discussion. ' 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  173 


Prejudices  against  Africans. 


'  You  feel  confident  then,  Pa,  that  the  blacks,  if  colonized, 
will  do  well  in  their  fathers'  native  land  ?* 

'I  can  have  no  reasonable  doubt  on  this  subject.  Place 
them  where  they  may  call  the  land  their  own,  where,  to  use 
the  language  of  a  distinguished  and  eloquent  statesman  of 
another  country,  "  they  will  stand  redeemed,  regenerated, 
and  disenthralled  by  the  mighty  genius  of  universal  emanci 
pation,"  and  they  will  commence  a  new  life.  Many  who 
were  fully  sensible  to  the  humiliation  of  their  condition  here, 
are  at  this  moment  worthy  and  independent  citizens  in  the 
country  of  their  forefathers.  It  seems  cruel  that  remaining 
in  this  country,  they  are  destined  to  be  for  ever  proscribed 
and  debased  by  our  prejudices  ;  and  yet,  for  all  that  we  can 
foresee,  such  must  be  the  consequence  unless  public  senti 
ment  undergoes  an  entire  change.  Whilst  at  the  South  the 
African  is  held  in  physical  bondage ;  in  all  our  country,  pre 
judice  consigns  him  to  a  moral  debasement,  by  which  he 
cannot  but  feel  that  he  is  deeply  injured.  The  prejudice 
against  the  color  of  the  African  which  appears  to  exist  in  the 
breasts  of  the  whites  in  this  country  generally,  is  such  as 
nothing  short  of  divine  power  can  remove.  How  far  this 
difference  between  ourselves  and  the  blacks  should  influence 
our  intercourse  with  them  in  political  life  or  in  respect  to  the 
sociabilities  of  the  friendly  circle,  I  shall  not  here  assert.  I 
have  my  own  views  on  this  subject. 

*  Some  great  and  good  men,'  said  Mr.  L.,  '  have  gone  to 
wide  extremes  on  this  question.  In  the  view  of  some,  a  colored 
skin  attaches  an  ignominy  which  I  cannot  but  feel  is  unjust ; 
others  are  severe  in  their  reproaches,  I  may  almost  say, 
anathemas,  against  those  who  indulge  in  any  hesitancy 
touching  the  fullest  expression  of  equality  and  unrestricted 
intercourse.  Perhaps,  were  I  to  express  them,  they  would 
suit  neither  extreme  ;  and,  it  is  even  possible  that  I  might 

0-2 


174  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 

Distinctions  on  account  of  color. 

be  charged  by  some,  with  cherishing  unjustifiable  and  wick 
ed  prejudices.  It  is  a  painful  subject.  If  we  refer  to  the 
Scriptures,  a  diversity  of  sentiment  remains  even  among 
good  people,  for  they  differ  in  their  interpretations  and  con 
structions  of  duty.' 

*  I  know,9  saidC.,  *  that  I  have  what  are  called  prejudices,  and 
still  I  think  I  am  sincerely  disposed  to  befriend  the  cause  of 
the  oppressed  negro.  Some  views  have  been  imputed  to 
some  friends  of  Africans,  at  which  my  mind  recoils — and 
this  I  suppose  is  what  is  denominated  prejudice.  Dr.  Philip, 
the  able  and  distinguished  missionary  in  South  Africa,  of 
the  London  Missionary  Society,  in  a  letter  to  a  benevolent 
association  of  students  at  the  Princeton  Theological  Semi 
nary,  says,  "  It  gives  us  a  frightful  view  of  human  nature, 
that  the  injuries  we  have  done  to  that  race  of  men,  should  be 
the  ground  of  our  hatred  against  them  ;  and  that  that  hatred 
should  be  evident  in  proportion  to  the  cruelty  and  injustice 
they  have  suffered  at  our  hands/'  *  *  *  "  As  our  children, 
it  is  hoped,"  he  continues,  "  will  be  more  innocent  of  the 
crimes  committed  against  Africa,  than  we  are,  so  we  hope 
they  will  cherish  towards  Africa  a  more  kindly  feeling  than 
we.  There  was  no  prejudice  against  color  when  Egypt 
was  the  cradle  of  literature  and  science,  nor  in  the  days  when 
the  Grecian  and  Roman  republics  were  in  their  glory  ;  and 
these  prejudices  will,  most  certainly,  pass  away,  as  the  prin 
ciples  of  the  gospel  prevail." 

4 1  believe  the  same  prejudice  does  not  exist,  in  the  same 
degree,  in  other  countries,  does  it,  Pa?' 

'  It  is  a  singular  fact  that  we  republicans  are,  in  this  mat 
ter,  far  more  exclusive  in  our  feelings  than  our  monarchical 
neighbors.  In  England,  it  is  common  to  see  respectable 
and  genteel  people,  open  their  pews  when  a  black  stranger 
enters  the  church  ;  and,  at  hotels,  nobody  thinks  it  a  degra- 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  175 

Less  prejudice  in  other  countries. 

dation  to  have  a  colored  traveller  sit  at  the  same  table.  I 
have  heard  a  well-authenticated  anecdote,  which  illustrates 
the  different  state  of  feeling  in  the  two  countries  on  this  sub 
ject.  "  A  wealthy  American  citizen  was  residing  in  London 
for  a  season,  at  the  time  the  famous  Prince  Saunders  was 
there.*  The  London  breakfast  hour  is  very  late ;  and  Mr. 
Saunders  happened  to  call  on  the  American  while  his  family 
were  taking  their  morning  repast.  Politeness  and  native 
good  feelings  prompted  the  good  lady  to  ask  their  guest  to 
take  a  cup  of  coffee ;  but  then,  the  prejudices  of  society — 
how  could  she  get  over  them  ?  True,  he  was  a  gentleman 
in  character,  manners,  and  dress — but  he  had  a  black  skinr 
and  how  could  she  sit  at  the  same  table  with  him  !  His  skin 
being  black,  it  was  altogether  out  of  the  question^  although 
it  is  possible  a  black  character  is  not  always  so  great  a  diffi 
culty  in  the  way  of  asking  a  man  to  eat  with  one  I  So  the 
lady  sipped  her  coffee,  and  Prince  Saunders  sat  at  the  win 
dow,  occasionally  speaking  in  reply  to  the  conversation  ad 
dressed  to  him.  At  last,  all  others  having  retired  from  the 
breakfast  table,  the  lady,  with  an  affected  air  of  sudden  re 
collection,  said,  '  I  forgot  to  ask  if  you  had  breakfasted, 
Mr.  Saunders ;  won't  you  allow  me  to  give  you  a  cup  of 
coffee  ?'  '  I  thank  you,  Madam,'  was  the  reply,  with  a  dig 
nified  bow,  '  /  am  engaged  to  breakfast  with  the  Prince 
Regent,  this  morning*" ' 

*  Saunders  received  a  liberal  education  in  New-England,  and  kept  a 
school  for  some  time  in  Boston.  From  thence  he  went  to  St.  Domingo  pro 
fessedly  to  promote  the  cause  of  education  in  that  island.  He  afterward* 
made  this  voyage  to  England  to  further  the  same  object,  and  was  received 
by  the  friends  of  African  improvement  with  the  most  flattering  courtesy. 
In  a  speech  before  the  managers  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
he  gave  an  interesting  account  of  St.  Domingo,  and  his  speech  was  much 
applauded;  he  is  said  to  have  spoken  with  much  propriety  of  language  and 
good  sense. — Griffin's  Plea  for  Africa. 


176  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Free  blacks  more  degraded  than  slaves. 


CONVERSATION   XVIII. 


"  It  is  not  easy  to  discern  any  object  to  whieh  the  pecuniary  resources  of 
the  Union  can  be  applied,  of  greater  importance  to  the  national  security 
and  welfare,  than  to  provide  for  the  removal,  in  a  manner  consistent  with 
the  rights  and  interests  of  the  several  States,  of  the  free  colored  population 
within  their  limits." — Gen.  Mercer. 

1  IN  our  last  conversation,  we  noticed  the  general  degrada 
tion  of  blacks  in  this  country.  The  circumstance  that  there 
are  so  few  blacks  that,  with  their  freedom,  avoid  poverty 
and  vice,  nobly  resisting  the  natural  tendency  of  their  con 
dition,  has  led  some  to  suppose  that  however  undesirable 
in  itself  slavery  may  be,  the  blacks  generally  gain  little, 
and  in  most  instances,  are  great  losers,  by  emancipation  ! 
It  has  been  asserted  that,  of  free  blacks  collected  in  our  cities 
and  large  towns,  a  great  portion  are  found  in  abodes  of 
wretchedness  and  vice,  and  become  tenants  of  poor-houses 
and  prisons.  As  a  proof  of  the  tendency  of  their  condition, 
the  following  striking  facts  among  others,  ascertained  a  year 
or  two  since,  have  been  mentioned :  In  Massachusetts, 
where  the  colored  population  is  small,  being  less  than 
7,000  souls,  (only  l-74th  part  of  the  whole  population,) 
about  l-6th  part  of  the  whole  number  of  convicts  in  the 
state-prison  are  blacks.  In  Connecticut,  l-34th  part  of  the 
population  is  colored,  and  l-3d  part  of  the  convicts.  In 
New-York,  l-35th  part  are  blacks ;  1-4 th  part  of  the  con 
victs  in  the  city  state-prison  are  blacks.  In  New-Jersey, 
the  proportion  is  l-13th  colored;  and  of  the  convicts  l-3d. 
In  Pennsylvania,  l-34th  part  of  a  population  of  more  than  a 
million  of  souls,  is  colored  ;  and  more  than  one-third  part  of 
the  convicts  are  black.  We  might  pursue  these  illustrations 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  177 

Alarming  proportion  of  crime  among  free  blacks. 

of  the  degradation  of  the  free  blacks  in  the  non-slaveholding 
States,  but  it  is  unnecessary.  Suffice  it  to  say,  it  appears 
from  these  statements,  (which  are  found  in  the  First  Annual 
Report  of  the  Prison  Discipline  Society,)  that  about  one 
quarter  part  of  all  the  expense  incurred  by  these  States  for 
the  support  of  their  institutions  for  criminals  is  for  colored 
convicts.  The  bill  of  expense  in  three  of  these  States  for 
the  support  of  colored  convicts  for  the  specified  number  of 
years  preceding  the  report  from  which  this  schedule  is  made, 
was  in  Massachusetts,  10  years,  $17,734;  Connecticut,  15 
years,  $37,166  ;  and  New-York,  in  one  prison,  27  years, 
8109,166,  making  in  all,  $164,066.  And  this  sum  was  ex 
pended,  in  an  average  of  less  than  eighteen  years,  on  con 
victs  from  among  a  population  of  only  54,000  colored  per 
sons.  Illustrations,  borrowed  from  the  criminal  statistics  of 
the  South,  I  have  no  doubt,  would  place  this  matter  in  a  far 
more  unfavorable  light.  References  to  the  expenses  for  the 
maintenance  of  paupers,  in  the  non-slaveholding  states,  would 
give  a  similar  result. 

*  Another  consideration,  and  one  of  great  weight  with  our 
southern  brethren,  in  leading  them  to  deprecate  the  exist 
ence  and  increase  of  a  colored  population  in  their  midst,  is 
the  contaminating  influence  which  this  class  spread  among 
the  poor  and  degraded  around  them.  Prostrate  and  wretch 
ed  themselves,  through  the  peculiarity  of  their  almost  hope 
less  circumstances,  they  are  a  source  of  envy  and  restless 
anxiety  to  the  slave,  who,  seeing  them  free  from  domestic 
restraint  and  witnessing  the  facilities  with  which  they  are 
enabled  to  indulge  their  various  propensities,  is  tempted, 
and  corrupted,  and  often  ruined  by  the  contagious  influence. 
Hence,  some  of  the  severest  provisions  of  the  law,  and  the 
most  cruel  restraints  to  which  slavery  is  subjected — and 
hence  too  the  early  discouragement,  and  of  late  years  the 


178  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


Either  colonization  or  slavery  necessary  for  the  present. 

absolute  prohibition  of  emancipation  except  under  severe 
restrictions.' 

1 1  recollect,'  said  C.,  *  having  been  very  much  shocked 
sometime  since  at  the  remark  of  Gen.  H.,  that  "  it  would 
have  been  better  for  the  free  blacks  had  they  been  kept  in 
bondage,  where  the  opportunity  and  the  inducements  to  vice 
would  not  have  been  so  great."  I  did  not  at  the  time  ap 
preciate  the  remark.' 

*  Such,  my  daughter,   is  the  opinion  of  many,  who  I  am 
sure  are  no  advocates  for  slavery,  and  who  have  made  sacri 
fices  to  their  good  feelings  towards  the  African,  both  slave 
and  free.     "  I  am  clear,"  says  a  distinguished  Virginian, 
who  feels  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of  our  colored  popu 
lation,   "  that  whether  we  consider  it  with  reference  to  the 
welfare  of  the  State,  or  the  happiness  of  the  blacks,  it  were 
better  to  leave  them  in  chains,  than  to  liberate  them  to  re 
ceive  such  freedom  as  they  enjoy." 

*  The  condition  of  slaves  themselves,  I  suppose,  would  be 
much  ameliorated  by  the  removal  of  those  that  are  freed,  and 
I  should  suppose  that  no  one  can  doubt  that  our  free  black 
population  may  find  themselves  much  more  favorably  located 
in  a  community  by  themselves.' 

*  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  colonization  has  a  tendency 
to  ameliorate  the  condition  of  the  slave  ;  and  that  it  is  well 
calculated  to  hasten  the  time  when  all  shall  go  free  wrho  are 
now  oppressed.     It  has  long  been  a  source  of  regret  among 
many  discerning,  well-informed,   and  Christian   people,  to 
my  own  knowledge,  that  they  cannot  free  their  slaves  with 
out  adding  to  their  wretchedness,  and  throwing,  as  it  were, 
loose  on  the  community  so  many  materials  to  be  manufac 
tured  into  every  form  of  indolence,  degradation  and  vice.' 

*  I  suppose,'  said  Henry,  *  that  if  the  immediate  emanci- 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  179 


Colonization  ameliorates  the  condition  of  the  slave. 

pation  of  the  whole  slave  population  were  to  be  effected, 
the  situation  of  the  whites  at  the  South  would  be  very  far 
from  enviable  ?' 

*  It  is  thought  by  the  South,  and  by  many  at  the  North,' 
said  Mr.  L.,  *  that  immediate  emancipation  would  render  It 
necessary  for  the  whites  to  exterminate  the  blacks,  or  aban 
don  the  southern  soil.  The  late  abolition  of  slavery  in  the 
West  India  colonies  is  pleaded  as  a  refutation  of  this  idea  ; 
but  those  who  are  best  qualified  to  judge,  assert  that  the 
emancipation  of  slaves  upon  the  West  India  estates,  is  a  very 
different  thing  from  the  immediate  emancipation  of  two  mil 
lions  of  slaves  in  the  southern  country  ;  and  that,  without 
raising  the  question  of  the  ultimate  effect  upon  the  whites  in 
the  West  Indies,  the  banishment  of  the  blacks,  or  the  ex 
patriation  or  annihilation  of  the  whites  from  the  South,  would 
be  the  necessary  consequence  of  immediate  and  universal 
emancipation  here. 

«  The  duty  of  immediate  emancipation,'  said  Caroline, 
*  would  be  very  plain,  I  suppose,  if  the  continuance  of  the 
system  is  wrong  under  any  circumstances.  The  aboli 
tionists,  I  believe,  view  slavery  in  all  cases,  as  a  sin — a 
44  malum  in  se,"  I  think  they  express  it ;  and  they  suppose 
it  is  hardly  proper,  and  somewhat  inconsistent,  to  advise 
leaving  off  sin  gradually,  as  convenience  dictates,' 

'  The  Rev.  Dr.  Fisk,  President  of  the  Methodist  Univer 
sity  in  Middletown,'  said  Mr.  L.,  *  illustrates  the  consequence 
of  carrying  out  the  views  of  our  abolitionist  brethren,  by  the 
following  anecdote:  "  The  eccentric  Lorenzo  Dow,  had  by 
building  a  milld&m  across  a  stream  flooded  his  neighbor's 
grounds  above  the  dam.  They  commenced  a  suit  against 
him,  and  obtained  a  verdict  in  their  favor,  on  the  principle 
that  he  was  invading  their  rights.  This  verdict  convinced 
Lorenzo  that  every  moment  he  kept  the  water  in  its  present 


180  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Immediate  and  universal  emancipation  ruinous. 


position  he  was  guilty  of  a  legal  sin  :  and  on  the  ground  that 
every  man  should  quit  sinning  immediately,  he  at  once  be 
came  a  convert  to  the  doctrine  of  immediate  abolition.  He 
according  went  to  work  and  forthwith  abolished  (or  de 
molished)  his  milldam.  The  immediate  consequence  of  let 
ting  off  so  large  a  quantity  of  water  at  once,  was  the  delug 
ing  of  the  country  below,  and  a  great  destruction  of  property. 
And  Lorenzo  was  taught  by  a  second  prosecution  and  assess 
ment  of  damages,  that  his  immediate  abolition  had  led  him 
into  a  greater  sin  than  he  was  guilty  of  before.' 

*  We  have  already  noticed,'  Mr.  L.  continued,  *  the  con 
dition  of  the  free  black  population  in  several  of  the  most 
highly  favored  States  in  the  Union.  Let  me  advert  to  a  few 
other  facts  :  In  the  State  of  Virginia  the  free  colored  people 
are  not  less  than  38,000 ;  and  yet  of  this  number,  not  200 
are  proprietors  of  land !  Again,  look  at  their  unwelcome 
reception  wherever  they  go,  among  the  whites  ;  and  consider 
the  fact  that  their  presence  is  regarded  as  an  evil  wherever 
they  are.  To  some  States  they  are  prevented  from  going, 
by  enactments  which  expose  them  to  a  forfeiture  of  their 
freedom  if  they  should  dare  to  set  foot  upon  the  soil.  Lou 
isiana,  sometime  since,  required  all  free  persons  of  color 
who  had  removed  to  the  State  since  the  year  1825,  to  leave 
it.  Thousands  who  had  taken  refuge  in  Ohio,  driven  out 
from  that  State,  sought  a  home  in  Canada  ;  but  the  result  is 
that  the  Canadians,  in  their  turn,  have  threatened  their  ex 
pulsion.  They  are  laid  under  restrictions  which  cannot  but 
be  exceeding  painful,  in  most  of  the  States  both  North  and 
South  ;  and  in  none  do  they  enjoy  any  thing  much  better 
than  a  mere  nominal  freedom.  Various  expedients  are  re 
sorted  to  by  the  State  legislatures  to  free  themselves  from  a 
free  colored  population,  by  disabilities  and  other  embarrass 
ments.  Every  State  seems  to  cherish  a  disposition  to  be 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA.  181 


Baltimore  memorial. 


free  from  a  free  black  population.*  The  South  casts  them 
off:  the  North  has  no  place  for  them  :  the  West  pushes 
them  away  :  Canada  expels  them :  and  where  shall  they  go  ? 
What  shall  they  do  ?  They  are  here  isolated  ;  have  no  home 
of  their  own ;  no  community  of  their  own ;  no  country  of 
their  own;  no  government  of  their  own  ;  no  system  what 
ever,  intellectual  or  moral,  in  which  their  individual  exist 
ence  forms  a  part  of  the  machinery  :  but  every  cheerful 
hope  seems  crushed.  They  are,  I  was  going  to  say,  dislo 
cated  from  humanity. 

'  The  free  people  of  color  in  Baltimore,  seem  to  have 
taken  a  correct  but  painful  view  of  this  subject,  in  a  memo 
rial  which  is  now  before  me  :  they  say,  to  the  citizens  of 
Baltimore,  "  We  have  hitherto  beheld,  in  silence,  but  with 
intense  interest,  the  efforts  of  the  wise  and  philanthropic  in 
our  behalf.  If  it  became  us  to  be  silent,  it  became  us  also  to 
feel  the  liveliest  anxiety  and  gratitude.  The  time  has  now- 
arrived,  as  we  believe,  in  which  your  work  and  our  happi 
ness  may  be  promoted  by  the  expression  of  our  opinions. 
*  *  *  Wre  reside  among  you,  and  yet  are  strangers ;  na 
tives,  and  yet  not  citizens  ;  surrounded  by  the  freest  people 
and  most  republican  institutions  in  the  world,  and  yet  enjoy 
ing  none  of  the  immunities  of  freedom.  This  singularity  in 
our  condition  has  not  failed  to  strike  us  as  well  as  you :  but 
we  know  it  is  irremediable  here.  Our  difference  of  color, 
the  servitude  of  many  and  most  of  our  brethren,  and  the  pre 
judices  which  those  circumstances  have  naturally  occasion- 


*  The  project  for  a  colony  upon  our  own  borders  has  often  been  thought 
of,  and  even  the  Legislature  of  Virginia  made  some  advances,  at  the  time  of 
the  cession  of  Louisiana  to  the  United  States,  to  obtain  a  territory  for  free 
colored  people  there.  Objections,  however,  of  a  serious  nature,  and  pro 
bably  insuperable,  seem  always  to  meet  every  plan  of  this  kind.  Instead 
of  a  State,  it  has  been  said,  such  colony,  especially  in  case  of  general  eman 
cipation,  would  soon  be  a  nation.  In  25  years,  the  population  of  the  colored 
would  be  nearly  6,000,000,— in  55  years,  a  nation  of  more  than  14,000,000. 
It  is  thought  that  it  is  better  and  safer  that  they  should  remain  among  ue, 
than  be  collected  in  masses  near  us. 

P 


182  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Baltimore  memorial. 


ed,  will  not  allow  us  to  hope,  even  if  we  could  desire,  to 
mingle  with  you,  one  day,  in  the  benefits  of  citizenship.  As 
long  as  we  remain  among  you,  we  must  (and  shall)  be  con 
tent  to  be  a  distinct  caste,  exposed  to  the  indignities  and 
dangers,  physical  and  moral,  to  which  our  situation  makes 
us  liable.  All  that  we  may  expect,  is  to  merit  by  our  peace 
able  and  orderly  behaviour,  your  consideration  and  the  pro 
tection  of  the  laws.  It  is  not  to  be  imputed  to  you  that  we 
are  here.  Your  ancestors  remonstrated  against  the  introduc 
tion  of  the  first  of  our  race,  who  were  brought  amongst  you  ; 
and  it  was  the  mother  country  that  insisted  on  their  admis 
sion,  that  her  colonies  and  she  might  profit,  as  she  thought, 
by  their  compulsory  labor.  *  *  Leaving  out  all  conside 
rations  of  generosity,  humanity,  and  benevolence,  you  have 
the  strongest  reasons  to  favor  and  facilitate  the  withdrawal 
from  among  you  of  such  as  wish  to  remove.  *  *  But 
if  you  have  every  reason  to  wish  for  our  removal,  how 
much  greater  are  our  inducements  to  remove  ?  Though  we 
are  not  slaves,  we  are  not  free.  *  *  Beyond  a  mere  sub 
sistence,  and  the  impulse  of  religion,  there  is  nothing  to 
arouse  us  to  the  exercise  of  our  faculties,  or  excite  us  to  the 
attainment  of  eminence.  Though  under  the  shield  of  your 
laws,  we  are  partially  protected,  not  totally  oppressed ;  never 
theless,  our  situation  will  and  must  inevitably  have  the  effect 
of  crushing,  not  developing  the  capacities  that  God  has  given 
us.  We  are,  besides,  of  opinion,  that  our  absence  will  ac 
celerate  the  liberation  of  such  of  our  brethren  as  are  in  bond 
age,  by  the  permission  of  Providence.  When  such  of  us  as 
wish,  and  may  be  able,  shall  have  gone  before  to  open  and 
lead  the  way,  a  channel  will  be  left,  through  which  may  be 
poured  such  as  hereafter  receive  their  freedom  from  the  kind 
ness  or  interests  of  their  masters,  or  by  public  opinion  and 
legislative  enactment,  and  who  are  willing  to  join  us  who 
have  preceded  them.  *  *  Of  the  many  schemes  that  have 


PLEA.    FOR   AFRICA.  183 

Baltimore  memorial. 

been  proposed,  we  must  approve  of  that  of  AFRICAN  COLO 
NIZATION.     If  we  were  able  and  at  liberty  to  go  whitherso 
ever  we  would,  the  greater  number,  willing  to  leave  this 
community,  would  prefer  LIBERIA,  on  the  coast  of  Africa. 
*  *  We  shall  carry  your  language,  your  customs,  your  opi 
nions,  and  Christianity  to  that  now  desolate  shore,  and  thence 
they  will  gradually  spread  with  our  growth,  far  into  the  con 
tinent.     The  slave-trade,  both  external  and  internal,  can  be 
abolished  only  by  settlements  on  the  coast.    *    *    We  fore 
see  that  difficulties  and  dangers  await  those  who  emigrate, 
such  as  every  infant  establishment  must  encounter  and  en 
dure.     «."*..*     But  '  Ethiopia  shall  lift  her  hands   unto 
God.'     Thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  poorer  than  we, 
annually  emigrate  from  Europe  to  your  country,  and  soon 
have  it  in  their  power  to  hasten  the  arrival  of  those  they  left 
behind.     *     *     If  we  were  doubtful  of  your  good  will  and 
benevolent  intentions,  we  would  remind  you  of  the  time 
when  you  were  in  a  situation  similar  to  ours,  and  when  your 
forefathers  were  driven  by  religious  persecution,  to  a  distant 
and  inhospitable  shore.    *    *    An  empire  may  be  the  result 
of  our  emigration,  as  of  theirs.     The  protection,  kindness, 
and  assistance  which  you  would  have  desired  for  yourselves 
under  such  circumstances,  now  extend  to  us,"  &c.     This 
memorial,   of  which  I  have  given  the  greater  part,   was 
adopted  at  meetings  of  "  respectable  free  people  of  color, 
held  in  the  Bethel"  and  African  churches,  which  meetings 
were  composed  of  "several  denominations,  from  every  part 
of  the  city."   The  memorial  is  a  well  written  document,  and 
cannot  be  read  without  interest.' 

*  There  is,'  said  Henry,  '  a  wide  field  for  enterprise  in 
Africa,  and  for  Christian  effort ;  if  I  were  an  African,  I  think 
I  should  not  hesitate  to  go.' 

4 1  was  exceedingly  interested  a  few  years  since  to  witness 


184  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Embarkation  of  colonists. 


the  embarkation  of  emigrants  from  one  of  our  principal  ports  ; 
and  was  surprised  to  find  in  how  many  instances  the  native 
origin  in  respect  to  particular  districts,  of  those  who  were 
about  to  sail,  might  be  determined.  Said  a  dear  friend  who 
soon  after  laid  down  his  life,  on  a  mission  to  Africa,*  "  There 
is  the  aged  Fantee  and  Haousian — they  say  *  I  go  to  encou 
rage  the  young — they  can  never  be  elevated  here— I  have 
tried  it  sixty  years — it  is  in  vain — could  I  by  my  example 
induce  them  to  embark,  and  I  die  the  next  day,  I  should  be 
satisfied.'  There  is  also  the  Congoese,  the  Guian,  the  An 
golan,  the  Aceran,  and  Ashantee — all  with  their  faces  to  the 
East.  And  there  is  one  case  of  great  interest — the  name  of 
that  girl,  is  A-cush-u-no-no.  In  Africa  she  would  be  styled 
a  young  Fantee  Princess.  She  is  an  heir  of  heaven,  we  have 
every  reason  to  believe." 

4  It  is  delightful  to  anticipate,  as  I  think  we  may,  with 
great  confidence,  the  result  of  the  colonization  enterprise. 
It  is  glorious  in  its  object — it  will,  I  doubt  not,  be  truly  glo 
rious  in  its  results.' 

*  The  Rev.  Horace  Sessions.  He  was  actively  engaged  in  the  coloniza 
tion  cause,  accompanied  an  expedition  to  Liberia,  and  died  on  his  return  to 
resume  his  labors  in  behalf  of  the  cause  in  this  country.  The  death  of  this 
Amiable  and  excellent  young  man,  was  greatly  lamented. 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA.  185 


Africa  a  home  for  her  children, 


CONVERSATION   XIX. 


"  For  myself,  I  am  free  to  say,  that  of  all  things  that  have  been  going 
on  in  our  favor  since  1787,  when  the  abolition  of  the  slave-trade  was 
seriously  proposed,  that  which  is  going  on  in  the  United  States  is  the  most 
important  It  surpasses  every  thing  that  has  yet  occurred.  No  sooner  had 
your  colony  been  established  on  Cape  Montserado,  than  there  appeared  a 
disposition  among  the  owners  of  slaves  to  give  them  freedom  voluntarily 
and  without  compensation,  and  allow  them  to  be  sent  to  the  land  of  their 
fathers,  so  that  you  have  many  thousands  redeemed,  without  any  cost  for 
their  redemption.  To  me  this  is  truly  astonishing.  Can  this  have  taken 
place  without  the  intervention  of  the  Spirit  of  God  ?" — Thomas  Clarkson. 

'  IT  is  a  settled  point,  I  should  think,'  said  Caroline — '  I 
consider  it  as  settled  in  my  own  mind,  at  least,  that  Africans 
and  their  descendants  cannot  be  so  useful  or  happy  as  citi 
zens  of  this  country,  as  they  might  be  in  their  fathers'  native 
land.' 

Said  Mr.  L.,  « I  have  been-looking  over  a  discourse  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Miller  of  Princeton,  which  was  delivered  in  1823, 
before  the  Synod  of  New-Jersey.  The  Dr.  holds  this  lan 
guage,  in  reference  to  this  subject,  which,  if  you  please,  I 
will  read  :  "If  liberated  and  left  among  the  whites,  they 
would  be  a  constant  source  of  annoyance,  corruption,  and 
danger.  They  could  never  be  trusted  as  faithful  citizens; 
for  they  could  never  feel  that  their  interests  and  those  of  the 
whites  are  precisely  the  same.  Each  would  regard  the 
other  with  painful  suspicion  and  apprehension.  *  *  It  is 
essential  to  the  interests  of  each  that  they  be  separated  to 
such  distances  from  each  other,  as  to  avoid  too  frequent  in 
tercourse.  They  should  be  in  a  situation  to  live  a  separate 
and  independent  people.  If  we  would  consult  their  tempo 
ral  and  eternal  well-being,  this  must  be  done  ;  if  we  would 


186  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


Motives  to  respectability. 


consult  our  own  interest  and  happiness,  it  is  equally  neces 
sary."  Again  he  says,  "  They  could  never  be  either  re 
spectable  or  happy  in  the  midst  of  a  white  population.  They 
can  never,  whilst  public  sentiment  remains  what  it  is,  asso 
ciate  with  the  whites  on  terms  of  equality.  They  may  be 
industrious  and  regular ;  they  may  be  enterprising  and  suc 
cessful  in  business;  and  exhibit  talents,  knowledge,  and 
wealth ;  but  after  all  they  can  never  associate  with  the  whites 
on  terms  comfortable  to  either.  They  will  be  treated,  and 
they  will  feel  as  inferiors.  They  cannot  live  under  the  in 
fluence  of  that  sense  of  character,  of  those  excitements  to 
aim  at  high  standing  in  society  which  operate  upon  a  eorres: 
ponding  number  of  white  people.  As  they  cannot  fail  to 
have  a  degraded  standing,  so  this  will  confer  on  them  in  a 
greater  or  less  degree  a  degraded  character.  Place  any  num 
ber  of  human  beings,  of  whatever  complexion,  in  a  situation 
in  which  they  can  never  aspire  to  an  equality  with  those 
around  them,  and  you  take  away  from  them  one  of  the  main 
incitements  to  industry,  to  honorable  enterprise,  and  to'emu- 
lation  of  excellence." 

'  This  is  indeed  but  a  repetition  of  the  sentiments  which 
I  have  already  advanced  in  these  conversations.  Slavery 
will  sooner  or  later,  cease  from  among  us ;  and  I  pray  that 
the  hour  may  hasten  when  our  country  shall  be  delivered 
from  its  scourge  and  reproach.  But  the  more  I  contemplate 
the  subject,  the  more  I  am  convinced  that  the  plan- which 
gives  promise  of  greatest  and  most  extensive  benefit  to  the 
slaves  in  our  country,  as  well  as  to  the  whites,  is  emancipa 
tion  united  with  COLONIZATION.  Nor  can  I  doubt  that  the 
colored  people  of  this  country  who  are  already  nominally 
free,  will  best  promote  their  own  interests,  as  well  as  the 
best  interests  of  their  race  and  the  salvation  of  their  fathers' 
Hative  continent,  by  planting  themselves  in  some  position  on 
the  inviting  shores  of  Africa.' 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA.  187 


The  foundation  of  a  Christian  empire  laid. 


'  But,  Pa,  they  must  be  prepared  by  education,  and  suita 
ble  moral  and  religions  instruction,  in  order  to  be  good  citi 
zens  of  any  country  ?' 

4  Certainly.  African  improvement  and  colonization  should 
be  considered  inseparable.  Great  care  must  be  taken  not  to 
destroy  the  hope  of  a  rich  blessing  for  Africa  by  sending 
thither  a  people  who  are  not  prepared  to  assist  in  laying  the 
foundation  of  a  great  and  cultivated,  prosperous  and  Christian 
nation.  The  germ  of  such  an  empire,  I  am  happy  to  say, 
has  already,  as  I  confidentally  believe,  taken  root  in  Africa. 
The  leaven  of  Christianity  is  already  in  the  midst  of  her  dark 
and  absurd  superstitions.  And  I  have  no  doubt  that  before 
a  century  has  passed  away,  millions  of  free  and  enlightened 
and  Christian  people  will  lift  up  their  hearts  on  the  shores 
of  Africa,  in  thanksgivings  to  God,  in  grateful  recollection 
of  the  Pilgrims  of  Mesurado  '.' 

*  We  should  like,  Pa,  to  know  more  than  we  do  of  coloni 
zation,  and  of  the   object  and  history  of  the  American  Co 
lonization  Society.' 

*  I  was  just  about  to  suggest  the  same,'  said  Henry. 

'It  will  give  me  great  pleasure  to  gratify  your  wishes  in 
this  respect.  THE  AMERICAN  COLONIZATION  SOCIETY  is  a 
voluntary  and  benevolent  association  which  was  formed  at 
Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  in  the  December  of  1816. 
Who  is  entitled  to  the  honor  of  first  suggesting  its  forma 
tion  and  character,  I  shall  not  undertake  to  determine.  As 
early  as  1777,  Mr.  Jefferson  proposed  to  the  legislature  of 
Virginia  to  have  incorporated  in  the  revised  code  of  that 
State,  a  plan  for  colonizing  the  free  colored  population  of 
the  United  States.  He  proposed  to  establish  a  colony  in 
some  part  of  our  Western  country.  Dr.  Fothergill  and 
Granville  Sharp  appear  the  first  in  England  who  entertained 


188  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


History  of  the  American  Colonization  Society. 


the  subject  of  colonization  in  Africa,  the  latter  of  whom  may 
be  regarded  as  the  founder  of  the  colony  of  Sierra  Leone. 
The  earliest  suggestions  that  I  have  met  with  on  the  subject 
of  colonization,  from  over  the  waters,  were  from  the  pen  of 
Granville  Sharp,  bearing  date  1783.  It  is  said  that  Anthony 
Benezet,  of  Philadelphia,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  Dr.  Fother- 
gill,  1773,  proposed  to  colonize  the  negroes  of  this  country, 
in  "  that  large  extent  of  country  from  the  west  side  of  the 
Alleghany  mountains  to  the  Mississippi,  on  a  breadth  of  four 
or  five  hundred  miles."  Benezet  also  writes,  under  date  of 
4th  month,  28th,  1773,  "I  am  like-minded  with  thee,  with 
respect  to  the  danger  and  difficulty  which  would  attend  a 
sudden  manumission  of  those  negroes  now  in  the  southern 
colonies,  as  well  to  themselves  as  the  whites."  A  society 
seems  to  have  been  formed  in  Pennsylvania  in  1785,  for  pro 
moting  the  gradual  abolition  of  slavery,  and  received  a  char 
ter  in  1789  ;  but  it  does  not  appear  that  this  body  contemplat 
ed  the  colonization  of  the  free  blacks  in  a  separate  com 
munity.  For  this  society,  however,  it  has  been  claimed  by 
an  able  advocate  for  colonization,  J.  R.  Tyson,  Esq.  that  it 
is  "  the  parent  of  perhaps  all  the  similar  institutions  in  this 
country." 

'In  1787,  Dr.  Thornton,  of  Washington,  it  seems,  form 
ed  a  project  for  colonizing,  on  the  Western  coast  of  Africa, 
free  men  of  color,  from  the  United  States  ;  and  published 
an  address  to  those  residing  in  Massachusetts  and  Rhode 
Island,  inviting  them  to  accompany  him  to  Africa  for  the  pur 
pose  of  forming  a  settlement.  He  was  enthusiastically  en 
gaged  in  the  enterprize,  and  was  so  far  successful  that 
he  found  a  sufficient  number  of  free  blacks  ready  to  go ;  but 
unfortunately  his  efforts  failed  for  want  of  funds,  the  public 
mind  not  being  then  sufficiently  prepared  for  any  such  enter 
prise  of  benevolence  to  afford  that  pecuniary  aid  which  is  so 
commendably  furnished  when  any  good  object  presents  itself 
at  the  present  day.  In  1789,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hopkins,  of 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA.  189 


Society  formed. 


Rhode  Island,  corresponded  on  the  subject  with  Granville 
Sharp,  and  in  1790,  an  able  article,  promotive  of  the  same 
object,  was  published  by  Ferdinando  Fairfax,  of  Virginia. 
In  1801,  the  legislature  of  Virginia  resolved  instructions  to 
their  Governor,  Mr.  Monroe,  to  apply  to  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  and  urge  him  to  institute  negotiations 
with  some  of  the  powers  of  Europe  possessed  of  colonies 
on  the  coast  of  Africa,  for  an  asylum  to  which  emancipated 
negroes  might  be  sent.  A  correspondence  followed  between 
President  Jefferson  and  the  Sierra  Leone  Company,  and  af 
terwards  with  the  government  of  Portugal ;  but  obstacles 
presented  and  that  project  was  at  length  abandoned. 

*  The  plan  of  a  Colonization  Society,  it  is  generally  con 
sidered,  was  proposed  by  the  Rev.  Robert  Finley,  of  New- 
Jersey.  He,  it  seems,  devoted  much  thought  to  the  subject 
in  1814,  as  also  irr  1815.  It  is  also  evident  that  the  Rev. 
Samuel  J.  Mills,  of  Connecticut,  was  not,  at  this  time, 
without  the  conception  of  the  great  plan  in  his  own  mind. 
Some,  who  assert  that  they  speak  from  personal  knowledge, 
represent  Mr.  Mills  as  the  man,  who,  under  God,  was  at 
the  foundation  of  this  institution.  Be  that  as  it  may,  he 
was  confessedly  a  warm  advocate  for  the  measure,  and  great 
ly  efficient  in  bringing  about  the  desired  result.  The  Ameri 
can  Colonization  Society  was  formed,  as  I  have  said,  in  1816, 
and  in  the  steps  immediately  preliminary  to  its  organization 
are  recorded  the  names  of  Mr.  Finley,  Mr.  Mills,  the  Hon. 
C.  F.  Mercer  of  Virginia,  and  F.  S.  Key,  and  E.  B.  Cald- 
well,  Esqrs.,  of  Washington.  Among  those  who  attended 
the  first  meeting,  for  the  organization  of  the  Society,  may  be 
mentioned  also  as  conspicuous,  the  Hon.  Bushrod  Washing 
ton,  who  was  first  President  of  the  Society,  and  the  Hon. 
Henry  Clay,  one  of  its  earliest  Vice-Presidents,  and  now  its 
President. 

4  The  first  Emigration  of  colored  people  to  Africa  from 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


First  Emigration  to  Africa. 


the  United  States,  was  in  1815,  about  a  year  previous  to  the 
formation  of  the  American  Colonization  Society.  This  expe 
dition  was  under  the  direction  of  Paul  Cuffee,  a  colored  man, 
and  truly  respectable,  benevolent,  and  wealthy  member  of 
the  denomination  of  Friends.  Capt.  Cuffee,  (of  New-Bed 
ford,  Mass.,)  sailed  from  Boston,  in  his  own  vessel,  taking 
with  him  thirty-eight  persons  to  Sierra  Leone,  thirty  of 
whom  he  carried  out  gratuitously,  at  an  expense  to  himself 
of  more  than  three  thousand  dollars.' 

*  Did  you  say  that  he  was  a  colored  man,  Pa  ?' 

4 1  did  ;  and  very  much  of  a  gentleman  he  was  too.  His 
father  was  a  poor  African,  whom  the  hand  of  unfeeling  ava 
rice  dragged  from  his  native  home  and  connexions  into 
slavery  ;  but  by  his  good  conduct,  faithfulness  and  persever 
ing  industry,  he,  in  time,  obtained  his  freedom.  Paul,  the 
son,  was  poor  in  his  early  days ;  but  was  industrious  and 
enterprising,  by  which  traits,  joined  to  much  practical  wis 
dom  and  sterling  common  sense,  he  at  length  rose  to  opu 
lence.  He  was  largely  concerned  in  commerce ;  and  in 
many  voyages  to  Russia,  England,  Africa,  the  West  Indies, 
and  southern  States,  commanded  his  own  ship.  A  man  of 
the  strictest  integrity,  modest  and  yet  dignified  in  his  man 
ners,  of  a  feeling  and  liberal  heart,  public  spirited  and  versed 
in  the  business  of  the  world,  his  acquaintance  and  friendship 
were  valued  by  many  who  greatly  honored  him,  both  in  this 
country  and  in  Europe.  I  remember  seeing  him  often,  in 
my  youth.  The  last  time  was  as  he  was  passing  through 
my  native  place,  in  his  own  private  family  carriage,  drawn 
by  beautiful  white  horses,  with  a  coachman  of  his  own  com 
plexion,  on  his  way  to  attend  a  Yearly  Meeting  of  the  So 
ciety  of  Friends,  of  which  I  have  said  he  was  a  worthy  and 
highly  respected  member.* 

*  It  is  said  that  "few  conld  remain  long  in  his  presence  without  forget 
ting  their  prejudice  against  color,  and  feeling  their  hearts  expand  with  juster 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA.  191 


Colonization  Agents  visit  Africa. 


'In  1818,  the  American  Colonization  Society  appointed 
as  agents,  the  Rev.  Samuel  John  Mills,  whose  labors  and 
prayers,  in  the  short  time  that  he  lived,  accomplished  much 
for  the  glory  of  God,  and  laid  the  foundation  for  great  re 
sults  in  the  conversion  of  perishing  heathen,  and  the  Rev. 
Ebenezer  Burgess,  now  Dr.  Burgess,  the  excellent  Pastor 
of  one  of  the  churches  in  New-England ;  and  instructed 
them  to  proceed  to  the  coast  of  Africa,  by  the  way  of  Eng 
land,  to  make  the  necessary  inquiries  for  a  suitable  location 
of  a  colony.  These  gentlemen  visited  all  the  ports  from 
Sierra  Leone  to  Sherbro,  and  acquired  much  valuable  infor 
mation.  Mr.  Mills,  as  you  know,  died  on  the  passage  from 
Africa,  leaving  the  church  to  mourn  the  loss  of  one  of  the 
best  and  most  useful  of  men.  You  recollect,  probably,  the 
just  and  eloquent  tribute  to  the  memory  of  this  man  of  God, 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bacon  of  New  Haven.  Mr.  Bacon,  you 
know  ;  and  know  also  that  he  is  the  ardent  and  faithful  friend 
of  Africa.  I  must,  through  respect  to  the  memory  of  the 
sainted  Mills,  read  to  you  an  extract  from  Mr.  Bacon's  dis 
course.  We  will  then  postpone  any  further  conversation 
until  evening,  when  we  will  hope  to  resume  the  subject.' 

"  A  young  minister  of  the  gospel  once  said  to  an  intimate 

sentiments  towards  the  most  injured  portion  of  the  human  family."  Besides 
the  voyage  to  Africa  with  the  emigrants,  he  is  said  to  have  previously  gone 
both  to  England  and  Africa  in  aid  of  the  same  great  object,  the  improve 
ment  of  the  African  race.  He  died  in  1817,  leaving  an  estate  valued  at 
$20,000.  The  Rev.  Peter  Williams,  a  colored  man,  and  Minister  of  an 
African  Church  in  the  city  of  New- York,  connected  with  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  in  a  sermon  preached  on  occasion  of  the  death  of  Captain 
C.,  has  these  remarks,  which  we  quote  both  as  honorable  testimony  to  the 
estimation  in  which  Captain  C.  was  held,  and  as  pleasing  evidence  of  the 
good  sense  and  respectable  talents  of  the  Rector  of  St.  Philip's  Church  : 
"His  countenance  was  serious,  but  mild;  his  Speech  and  habit  plain  and 
unostentatious  ;  his  deportment  dignified  and  prepossessing,  blending  gravity 
with  modesty  and  sweetness,  and  firmness  with  gentleness  and  humility. 
*  *  He  rose  like  the  sun,  diffusing  wider  and  wider  the  rays  of  his  bene 
ficence  ;  until,  having  attained  his  zenith,  even  the  nations  beyond  the  seas 
were  made  to  rejoice  in  his  beams.  *  *  His  voyages  are  all  over:  he  has 
made  his  last,  and  it  was  to  the  haven  of  eternal  repose." — N.  Y-  Spectator, 
1817;  and  Griffin's  Plea. 


192  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 

Samuel  John  Mills. 

friend,  '  My  brother,  you  and  I  are  little  men,  but  before  we 
die,  our  influence  must  be  felt  on  the  other  side  of  the 
world.'  Not  many  years  after,  a  ship,  returning  from  a  dis 
tant  quarter  of  the  globe,  paused  on  her  passage  across  the 
deep.  There  stood  on  her  deck  a  man  of  God,  who  wept 
over  the  dead  body  of  his  friend.  He  prayed,  and  the  sai 
lors  wept  with  him.  And  they  consigned  that  body  to  the 
ocean.  It  was  the  body  of  the  man  who,  in  the  ardor  of 
youthful  benevolence,  had  aspired  to  extend  his  influence 
through  the  world.  He  died  in  youth  ;  but  he  had  redeem 
ed  his  pledge  ;  and  at  this  hour,  his  influence  is  felt  in  Asia, 
in  Africa,  in  the  Islands  of  the  sea,  and  in  every  corner  of 
his  native  country.  This  was  SAMUEL  JOHN  MILLS;  and 
all  who  know  his  history,  will  say  that  I  have  exaggerated 
neither  the  grandeur  of  his  aspirations,  nor  the  result  of  his 
efforts.  He  traversed  our  land  like  a  ministering  spirit, 
silently,  and  yet  effectually,  from  the  hill  country  of  the 
Pilgrims  to  the  valley  of  the  Missouri.  He  wandered  on 
errands  of  benevolence  from  village  to  village,  and  from  city 
to  city,  pleading  now  wiih  the  patriot  for  a  country  growing 
up  to  an  immensity  of  power,  and  now  with  the  Christian, 
for  a  world  lying  in  wickedness.  He  explored  in  person 
the  desolation  of  the  West,  and  in  person  he  stirred  up  to 
enterprise  and  effort  the  churches  of  the  East.  He  lived  for 
India  and  Owhyhee,  and  died  in  the  service  of  Africa.  He 
went  to  heaven  in  his  youth ;  but  his  works  do  follow  him, 
like  a  long  train  of  glory  that  still  widens  and  brightens,  and 
will  widen  and  brighten  for  ever." 

4  Let  me  repeat,'  said  Caroline,  *  as  a  supplement  to  the 
truly  eloquent  extract  from  Mr.  Bacon's  eulogium,  the  poe 
try  of  one  whom  I  love  to  quote,  and  whose  effusions  you, 
Pa,  and  Henry,  both  love  to  hear,  and  then  I  will  consent 
to  adjourn ;  although,  I  confess,  I  shall  long  for  the  evening 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  103 


Samuel  John  Mills. 


to  come,  to  resume  the  subject,  for  I  have  become  deeply  in 
terested.' 

*  I  will  hear  you  with  pleasure,  Caroline,'  said  her  father. 
Caroline  remarked,  «  They  are  the  lines  of  Mrs.  Sigourney, 
on  reading  the  Biography  of  Mr.  Mills.' 

"  Oh  Africk !  raise  thy  voice  and  weep 

For  him  who  sought  to  heal  thy  wo, 
Whose  bones  beneath  the  briny  deep 

Bleach  where  the  pearl  and  coral  glow. 

Unfetter'd  by  the  wiles  of  earth, 

And  girded  for  the  race  of  heaven, 
Even  from  his  dedicated  birth 

To  God  and  thee  his  soul  was  given. 

In  hermit  cells  of  prayerful  thought, 

In  meditation's  holy  sphere, 
He  nursed  that  sacred  wish  which  sought 

The  darkness  of  a  world  to  cheer. 

Our  western  wilds  where  outcasts  roam, 

Sad  India's  vales  with  blood  defac'd, 
Blest  Obookiah's  sea-girt  home 

The  ardor  of  his  zeal  embrac'd. 

But  thou,  indebted  clime,  that  drew 

Through  torrid  seas  his  stranger  sail, 
Whose  tall  cliffs  heard  his  fond  adieu, 

Pour  forth  the  wildest,  bitterest  wail." 


194  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Friends  of  Africa. 


CONVERSATION    XX, 


"  Many  circumstances  at  present  seem  to  concur  in  brightening  the  pros 
pects  of  the  Society,  and  cherishing  the  hope  that  the  time  will  come  when 
the  dreadful  calamity  which  has  so  long  afflicted  our  country,  and  filled  so 
many  with  despair,  will  be  gradually  removed,  and  by  means  consistent 
with  justice,  peace,  and  the  general  satisfaction  :  thus  giving  to  our  country 
the  full  enjoyment  of  the  blessings  of  liberty,  and  to  the  world  the  full  bene 
fit  of  its  great  example." — Madison. 

MR.  L.  remarked,  at  the  opening  of  this  conversation,  'It 
has  occurred  to  me  that,  in  mentioning  the  early  friends  of 
Africa,  I  ought  not  to  have  omitted  mentioning  more  parti 
cularly  the  name  of  Anthony  Benezet.  His  name  will  live, 
whilst  virtue  and  benevolence  are  respected  among  men  ;  and 
his  earnestness  in  the  cause  of  humanity  will  be  remembered 
long  after  the  history  of  Africa's  redemption  shall  be  written. 
Benezet  established  a  free  school  in  Philadelphia  for  the 
education  of  colored  people,  which  is  still  in  operation  in 
Willing's  alley,  and  at  which  John  Williams  and  Peter 
Harris,  interesting  youths  from  the  native  tribes  of  Bassa 
Cove,  have  been  partially  educated  ;  the  former  of  whom 
has  returned  to  Africa,  and  the  latter,  an  African  prince,  is 
now  at  Lafayette  College,  Easton,  Pa.,  for  the  completion 
of  his  education.  Benezet  was  always  prompt  to  plead  in 
the  behalf  of  the  colored  race,  as,  to  their  honor  be  it  told, 
have  ever  been  the  respectable  Society  of  Friends,  of  which 
he  was  a  member,  to  feel  a  deep  concern  to  ameliorate  the 
condition  of  this  unhappy  class  of  their  fellow-men;  Bene 
zet  early  caused  to  be  republished  in  Philadelphia  the  cele 
brated  tract  of  Granville  Sharp,  on  the  injustice  of  the  slave- 
trade,  and  also  wrote  and  published  a  work  on  the  subject 
himself,  which  was  republished  in  England.  He  commenced 


PLEA    FOR  AFRICA.  195 


Anthony  Benezet. 


a  correspondence  with  Mr.  Sharp  on  the  subject,  in  1772  ; 
of  this  correspondence  I  will  give  you  another  extract : — "  I 
doubt  not,"  he  writes,  "  but  thou  wilt,  upon  inquiry,  find 
more  well-minded  people  ready  to  cry  thee  '  God  speed,'  in 
this  weighty  service,  than  thou  art  aware  of.  The  most  solid 
amongst  all  dissenters,  particularly  the  Presbyterians,  would 
be  well-pleased  to  see  an  end  put  to  the  slave-trade,  and 
many,  to  slavery  itself.  The  people  of  New  England  have 
made  a  law  that  nearly  amounts  to  a  prohibition  of  the  trade, 
and  I  am  informed,  have  proposed  to  the  governor  and  coun 
cil,  that  all  negroes  born  in  the  country  shall  be  free  at  a 
certain  age.  The  people  of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  are  so 
convinced  of  the  inexpediency,  if  not  of  the  iniquity  of  any 
further  importation  of  negroes,  that  twenty  thousand  people 
would  freely  join  in  a  petition  to  parliament,  against  any 
further  import.""  Roberts  Vaux,  in  his  life  of  Benezet,  says, 
"  During  the  sitting  of  the  legislature,  in  1780,  a  session 
memorable  for  the  enactment  of  a  law  which  commenced  the 
gradual  abolition  of  slavery  in  Pennsylvania,"  Benezet  "  had 
private  interviews  on  the  subject  with  every  member  of  the 
government,  and  no  doubt  thus  essentially  contributed  to  the 
adoption  of  that  celebrated  measure." 

4  T  will  now  endeavor  to  satisfy  your  inquiry  in  respect  to 
the  object  of  the  American  Colonization  Society.  This  can 
be  done  in  a  few  words,  by  referring  to  the  constitution  itself, 
of  the  Society,  the  first  two  articles  of  which  are  as  follows  : 

*  "  Article  I.  This  Society  shall  be  called  the  American 
Society  FOR  COLONIZING  THE  FREE  PEOPLE  OF  COLOR  of  the 
United  States. 

4  "  Article  II.  The  OBJECT  to  which  its  attention  is  to  be 
exclusively  directed,  is  TO  PROMOTE  AND  EXECUTE  A  PLAN 
FOR  COLONIZING,  WITH  THEIR  CONSENT,  THE  FREE  PEOPLE  OF 
COLOR  RESIDING  IN  OUR  COUNTRY,  IN  AFRICA,  OR  SUCH  OTHER 
PLACE  AS  CONGRESS  SHALL  DEEM  EXPEDIENT."  ' 


196  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


Obj  ect  of  colonization . 


s  Is  this  alone  the  object  of  the  Society  ?'  said  Caroline, 
'  I  had  supposed  that  it  contemplated  also  the  suppression  of 
the  slave-trade,  and  also  the  final  emancipation  of  slaves  in 
our  country.' 

"  Its  whole  object,'  said  Mr.  L.,  'is  stated  in  the  second  ar 
ticle  of  its  constitution.  Other  important  ends  may  be  ob 
tained  as  the  means  of  establishing  and  building  up  the  co 
lony,  01*  as  consequences  of  the  efforts  for  colonization ;  but 
this  is  the  one  object  it  has  in  view.  Pursuing  this  one  ob 
ject,  the  North  and  the  South  may  unite  in  harmonious 
action.  The  subject  of  emancipation  it  passes  by,  knowing 
that  this  belongs  exclusively  to  the  several  States  in  which 
slavery  is  tolerated,  and  to  individual  proprietors  in  those 
States,  under  and  according  to  their  laws.  The  subject  of 
the  slave-trade  is  not  contemplated  directly  in  the  constitu 
tion  of  the'  Society,  for  the  authority  for  its  suppression  is 
vested  only  in  the  government  of  the  nations.  Nor  does  it 
directly  aim  at  the  education  and  improvement  of  the  blacks 
in  this  country ;  for  this  must  be  under  the  direction  of  State 
governments,  or  of  State  Societies,  and  no  interference  in 
the  domestic  concerns  of  any  one  State,  is  admissible  on  the 
pan  of  inhabitants  of  another  State.  At  the  same  time,  to 
use  the  language  of  one  of  its  Vice-Presidents,  Mr.  Clay, 
*'  It  hopes  that  if  it  shall  demonstrate  the  practicability  of  the 
successful  removal  to  Africa,  of  free  persons  of  color,  with 
their  own  consent ;  the  cause  of  emancipation,  either  by 
States  or  by  individuals,  may  be  incidentally  advanced.  At 
the  same  time,  our  country  will  be  relieved  of  a  great  evil  in 
proportion  as  colonization  succeeds  ;  those  who  may  remove 
will  find  their  condition  greatly  improved ;  and  by  introduc 
ing  knowledge,  industry,  and  religion  into  Africa,  we  shall 
contribute  to  the  suppression  of  the  slave-trade,  and  to  the 
civilization  and  conversion  of  a  CONTINENT  !  These  are  ends 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  197 


Colonization  generally  approved. 


which  will  be  obtained  although  the  object  of  the  Society  is 
one" 

'  The  course  which  the  Society  takes,  unites  a  greater 
number  of  judicious  and  well  disposed  persons  of  every  sec 
tion  of  our  common  country,  probably,  than  any  other  plan 
could.  It  is  true,  there  are  not  a  few  who  object :  the  slave 
holder  has,  in  some  instances,  indulged  the  suspicion  that  an 
interference  "  with  the  rights  of  property,"  may  be  intended  ? 
and  the  advocate  of  general  and  immediate  emancipation 
without  discrimination,  has  cast  upon  the  Society  his  keen 
est  reproaches,  alleging  that  its  influence,  if  not  its  direct  ob 
ject,  is  to  perpetuate  the  existence  of  slavery.  These  objec 
tions,  however,  so  diametrically  opposite,  many  advocates 
of  colonization  regard  as  matter  of  felicitation,  rather  than 
otherwise,  inasmuch  as  they  evince  the  wisdom  of  the  plan 
of  operation  which  is  proposed.  The  virulent  denunciations 
of  both  extremes  of  public  sentiment,  they  say,  were  to  be 
expected  by  a  Society  rejecting  the  hurtful  in  the  views  of 
either,  although  adopting  the  liberal  in  both.  Besides,  had 
it  been  warmly  espoused  at  the  first  by  either,  it  would  have 
been  irreconcileably  opposed  by  the  other,  and  would  have 
been  itself  the  dividing  line  between  two  great  parties,  leav 
ing  no  middle  ground  on  which  the  great  majority  of  the 
nation  might  stand,  as  now,  and  safely  urge  forward  this 
cause  of  philanthropy  and  of  patriotism,  without  compro 
mise  of  principles,  or  the  violation  of  the  constitution  and 
endangerment  of  the  Union.' 

*  This  Society,'  Caroline  here  remarked,  t  we  know,  is 
approved  by  many  judicious  and  good  men,  and  I  do  not  see 
why  it  should  be  opposed,  or  suspected  of  designing  to 
take  any  other  course  than  that  which  it  has  taken,  and  still 
pursues.  "  Charity  thinketh  no  evil."  ' 

Henry  said,  *  I  wonder  how  the  subject  would  strike  the 

Q2 


198  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Lafayette's  views  of  the  Colonization  Society. 


mind  of  a  man  of  enlarged  views  and  philanthropic  soul, 
who  was  in  a  situation  to  see  it  as  it  is,  and  to  judge  without 
prejudice.  I  should  think  now,  that  the  opinion  of  such  a 
man  as  LAFAYETTE,  would  be  worthy  of  regard ;  if  he  ap 
proved  of  colonization,  or  disapproved  of  it,  I  should  think 
that  his  unprejudiced  opinion  would  have  influence.' 

4  Lafayette  was  a  Vice-President  of  the  Colonization  So 
ciety,  Henry,'  said  Caroline. 

fc  O  no,  Caroline,'  said  H.;  *  are  you  not  mistaken  ?' 

'  Yes,'  said  Mr.  L.,  *  Lafayette  was  an  honorary  Vice- 
President  of  the  Colonization  Society.  And  we  have  his 
opinion,  expressly,  on  the  subject  of  colonization.  In  a  let 
ter,  dated  at  "  Paris,  Oct.  29,  1831,"  he  says,  "The  pro 
gressing  state  of  our  Liberia  establishment,  is  to  me  a  source 
of  enjoyment  and  the  most  lively  interest.  PROUD  AS  i  AM 
OF  THE  HONOUR  of  being  one  of  the  Vice-Presidents  of  the 
Society,  I  only  regret  that  I  cannot  make  myself  more  use- 
fuL  *  *  When  the  Society  meet,  be  pleased  to  present 
my  wishes,  gratitude,  and  respect."  ! 

4  Who  are  some  of  the  other  officers  of  the  Society  ; 
many  of  our  most  distinguished  public  men  ?' 

'' It  has  enjoyed  both  the  entire  confidence  of  our  most 
distinguished  men,  and  the  high  honor  of  their  influence 
and  services  as  its  members  and  officers.  Some  of  these 
"  are  not,  for  God  has  taken  them  ;"  others  are  with  us,  arid 
long  may  they  be  spared  to  help  forward  the  cause  of  co 
lonization,  and  as  ornaments  and  blessings  to  the  world. — 
The  Hon.  Bushrod  Washington,  I  have  already  named,  as 
its  first  President.  Charles  Carroll  was  President  of  the 
Society  after  the  death  of  Judge  Washington.  James  Mc- 
dison  was  its  late  President.  Henry  Clay  is  its  President 
at  the  present  time.  The  late  Chief-Justice  Marshall  and  the 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  199 


Other  distinguished  men. 


venerable  and  lamented  Bishop  White,  have  been  among  its 
Vice-Presidents  ;  also,  Hon.  Wm.  H.  Crawford,  Bishop  Mc- 
Kendree,  and  Robert  Ralston.  Among  its  present  officers, 
besides  Mr.  Clay,  are  John  C.  Herbert  of  Maryland,  Gen. 
Mason  of  Va.,  Samuel  Bayard  of  New- Jersey,  Daniel  Web 
ster  of  Boston,  Gen.  Mercer  of  Va.,  President  Day  of  Yale 
College,  John  Cotton  Smith  of  Conn.,  Theo.  Frelinghnysen 
of  New-Jersey,  Bishop  Meade  of  Va.,  Samuel  Southard  of 
N.  Jersey,  Geo.  W.  Lafayette  of  France,  Nicholas  Brown 
of  R.  I.,  Pres.  Fisk  of  the  Wesleyan  Seminary  in  Conn., 
and — I  will  not  undertake  to  enumerate  more,  although  I 
might  recollect  and  mention  many  others  of  distinguished 
eminence  in  different  parts  of  the  Union.  Its  Secretary  is 
the  Rev.  Ralph  R.  Gurley,  and  its  Treasurer,  Joseph  Gales, 
Sen.  Esq.,  both  residents  in  Washington.  The  Coloniza 
tion  Society  has,  indeed,  become  an  object  of  admiration  in 
different  parts  of  the  globe.' 

4 1  recollect,'  said  Henry,  '  among  those  whose  appro 
bation  it  received,  the  name  of  Wilberforce.' 

'  In  respect  to  Wilberforce,  your  apprehension  is  correct 
that  it  receivedhis  approbation,'  said  Mr.  L.,  "  Trojafuitl  ' 
It  may  be  considered  a  mooted  point,  however,  as  relates  to 
the  final  decision  of  the  mind  of  the  philanthropic  and  la 
mented  Wilberforce.  It  is  asserted  that  he  withdrew  con 
fidence  from  the  cause,  although  he  had  been  the  unhesitat 
ing  friend  and  advocate  of  colonization.  In  regard  to  this 
matter,  Dr.  Hodgkin,  of  London,  says  that  "  Wilberforce 
continued  to  avow  his  approbation  of  the  Society  until  near 
the  period  of  his  lamented  death,  when  the  exparte  state 
ments  of  those  who  knew  the  importance  of  his  authority, 
obtained  a  triumph,  the  achievement  of  which  confers  no 
honor." 

*  The  Society  has  not  been  without  many  and  distinguish- 


200  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


Auxiliaries. 


ed  friends  abroad.  Lord  Althorp,  the  late  learned  Chancel 
lor  of  the  Exchequer,  and  one  of  the  most  enlightened  and 
distinguished  noblemen  of  England,  has  publicly  pronounced 
the  foundation  of  the  colony  of  Liberia  to  be  "  one  of  the 
greatest  events  of  modern  times."  The  immortal  Clarkson, 
whose  labors  in  the  cause  of  African  freedom  have  been 
greater  than  those  of  almost  any  other  man  living,  is  "strong 
ly  attached  to  the  society ;"  the  Duke  of  Sussex,  Lord 
Bexley,  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  the  Archbishop  of  Dublin, 
and  others  of  the  highest  standing  in  society,  are  officers  of 
a  Society  denominated  THE  BRITISH  AFRICAN  COLONIZA 
TION  SOCIETY,  which  has  been  foimed  in  Great  Britain  in 
aid  of  the  colonization  enterprise.  They  consider  the  plan 
of  the  American  Colonization  Society  as  "admirably  ad 
apted  to  introduce  Christianity- and  civilization  among  the 
natives  of  Africa,  and  to  extirpate  the  slave-trade,  which 
the  moral  efforts  of  Great  Britain  and  other  powers,  have 
been  unable  to  suppress."  I  might  mention  many  eminent 
foreigners  who  have  expressed  their  decided  approbation  of 
the  Society.' 

'  Auxiliaries  are  found,  I  presume,  in  almost  every  State 
of  the  Union  ;  are  they  not,  Pa  ?' 

*  I  am  not  able  to  specify  the  number,  but  I  recollect  there 
are  State  and  other  auxiliaries  in  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  Ver 
mont,  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  New-York,  New-Jersey, 
Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  Alabama, 
Tennessee,  Kentucky,  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Delaware ;  and 
resolutions  approving  of  the  Society,  have  been  passed  by 
the  Legislatures  of  most  of  these  and  other  States,  and  by 
most  of  these  also  the  American  Colonization  Society  has 
been  recommended  to  the  patronage  of  the  General  Govern 
ment.  Some  of  the  States  have  made  conditional  appropria 
tions  from  their  respective  treasuries.  Maryland  has  set  a 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  201 


Funds. 


noble  example  to  her  sister  States  by  granting  $200,000 
from  her  treasury — that  is,  the  sum  of  $20,000  annually  for 
ten  years — to  enable  the  free  blacks  of  Maryland,  if  they  feel 
disposed,  to  remove  to  Liberia. 

*  The  Society  has  also  received  the  approbation  of  all  pro 
minent  denominations,  by  the  acts  of  their  ecclesiastical  ju- 
dicatories,  whether  assemblies,  general  associations,  synods, 
classes,  meetings,  or  conventions.     Episcopalians,  Presby 
terians,  the  Dutch  Reformed,  Methodists,  Congregationalists, 
Baptists,  Lutherans,  Moravians,  and  Friends,  have  thought 
proper,  in  their  larger  ecclesiastical  bodies,  to  commend  the 
objects  of  the  Society  to  the  patronage  and  good  wishes  of 
the  community.1 

*  Has  the  Society  considerable  funds  by  which  to  sustain 
its  operations  ?' 

1  It  has  almost  none,  aside  from  voluntary  contributions, 
which  are  made  from  week  to  week.  Its  income,  however, 
from  these  sources,  has  been  considerable,  and  gradually  in 
creasing  from  its  commencement.  From  1821  to  1828  in 
clusive,  the  amount  of  donations  was  nearly  $83,000.  In 
1829,  it  was  upwards  of  $20,000.  In  1830,  more  than 
$27,000.  In  1831,  rising  $32,000.  In  1832,  more  than 
$32,000.  In  1833,  $49,000.  In  1834-5,  nearly  $52,000. 
A  heavy  debt  which  had  accumulated  upon  it,  and  had  like, 
for  a  time,  to  have  disheartened  its  friends  and  suspended 
its  operations,  has,  by  a  better  arrangement  in  respect  to  its 
fiscal  operations,  been  nearly  extinguished,  and  its  prospects 
are  again  brightening. 

*  In  our  next  conversation,  we  will  turn  our  attention  to 
LIBERIA.' 


202  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


Liberia. 


CONVERSATION   XXI. 


"  Yes  !  thy  proud  lords,  unpitying  band,  shall  see 

That  man  hath  yet  a  soul,  and  dare  be  free  ; 

A  little  while,  along  thy  saddening  plains, 

The  starless  night  of  desolation  reigns; 

Truth  shall  restore  the  light  by  Nature  given, 

And,  like  Prometheus,  bring  the  fire  of  heaven  ! 

Prone  to  the  dust  Oppression  shall  be  hurl'd — 

Her  name,  her  nature,  wither'd  from  the  world." — Campbell. 

'  You  promised,  in  our  last  conversation,'  said  Caroline, 
*  that  we  should  this  morning  hear  something  of  the  history 
of  LIBERIA;  and  I  assure  you,  Pa,  that  Henry  and  I  have 
a  great  deal  of  curiosity  to  satisfy  on  this  subject,  so  that 
you  may  expect  to  be  troubled  with  a  great  many  questions. 
Why,  Sir,  was  the  country  in  which  the  colonies  are  located, 
called  Liberia  T 

*  I  am  much  gratified  to  find  that  you  both  take  so  deep 
an  interest  in  the  subject ;  and  shall  be  pleased  to  hear  and 
to  reply  to  as  many  inquiries  as  you  may  feel  inclined  to 
make.  The  name  "  Liberia,"  was  given  to  the  district  of 
country  in  which  the  colonies  are  found,  because  it  is  the 
land  of  the  free* d  ;  the  name  being  coined  from  the  Latin 
adjective  "  liber,"  or  "  llbera,"  free  it. 

'  The  central  point  of  the  old  colony  of  Liberia,  proper, 
now  called  the  colony  of  Monrovia,  is  Cape  Mesurado,  or 
Montserado,  which  is  represented  as  a  most  beautiful  and 
commanding  site.  Liberia,  embracing  all  the  distinct  colonies 
which  are  or  may  be  planted,  is  situated  about  5  degrees  N. 
of  the  equator,  and  250  miles  S.  of  Sierra  Leone,  the  En 
glish  colony.  It  extends  along  the  coast  to  the  length  of 
150  or  300  miles  ;  and  reaches  into  the  interior  indefinitely. 


FLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  203 


Location  and  chief  settlements. — Monrovia. — Caldwell. 

Rivers,  some  of  considerable  size,  water  the  country  through 
out.  The  soil  is  extremely  fertile,  and  abounds  in  all  the 
productions  of  tropical  climates. '  The  population,  at  the  pre 
sent  time,  is  more  than  4,000  ;  perhaps  it  may  be,  as  is  esti 
mated  by  some,  5  or  6,000. 

'  The  chief  city  in  the  old  colony,  or  colony  of  Monrovia, 
is  Monrovia  ;  so  called  in  honor  of  the  late  ex-President  of 
the  United  States,  James  Monroe.  It  is  situated  on  Cape 
Montserado,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mesurado  river ;  and  con 
tains  about  500  houses  and  stores — a  court-house — five 
churches,  one  Presbyterian,  two  Methodist,  and  two  Bap 
tist—three  flourishing  schools,  one  of  which  has  upwards  of 
100  scholars — a  temperance  society,  numbering  upwards  of 
500  members — and  about  1500  inhabitants.  The  houses 
are  generally  well  built,  and  of  a  pleasant  appearance.  The 
city  is  seventy  feet  above  the  sea ;  and  the  temperature  is 
mild  and  agreeable,  the  thermometer  not  varying  more  than 
from  68  to  87  deg.,  and  the  inhabitants  enjoying,  most  of 
the  time,  a  refreshing  sea-breeze.  The  streets  are  100  feet 
wide,  crossing  each  other  at  right  angles.  The  harbor, 
which  is  formed  by  the  mouth  of  the  river,  is  convenient 
and  capacious  for  vessels  of  moderate  dimensions. 

*  Seven  miles  north  of  the  outlet  of  the  Mesurado,  is  the 
river  St.  Paul's  on  which  is  the  town  of  Caldwell.  This 
town,  after  the  plan  of  some  American  villages,  has  but  one 
street,  which,  a  mile  and  a  half  long,  is  planted  on  either 
side  with  a  beautiful  row  of  plaintain  and  banana  trees. 
Caldwell  is  an  agricultural  establishment,  and  is  flourishing. 
It  has  three  churches,  three  day  schools,  and  three  Sunday 
schools.  It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  one  of  the  native  kings 
recently  applied  at  one  of  these  day  schools  for  admission  of 
twelve  children  ;  which  request,  however,  could  not  be 
granted,  as  the  school  was  already  full. 

'  Between  Caldwell  and  Monrovia,  on  Stockton  creek,  is 


204  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 

New  Georgia. — Millsburgh. 

a  settlement  of  recaptured  Africans,  called  New  Georgia, 
and  planted  in  part,  by  the  aid  of  our  General  Government. 
It  contains  500  inhabitants,  who,  although  they  were  once 
the  miserable  tenants,  in  chains,  of  the  loathsome  slave-ship, 
are  now  living  in  trie  enjoyment  of  the  blessings  of  Christian 
and  civilized  life.  This  place  has  a  church  and  near  two 
hundred  houses.  Mr.  Buchanan,  Agent  of  the  Young  Men's 
Society  of  Pennsylvania,  who  visited  the  place,  says  respect 
ing  this  settlement,  "  The  air  of  perfect  neatness,  thrift,  and 
comfort,  which  every  where  prevails,  affords  a  lovely  com 
mentary  on  the  advancement  which  these  interesting  people 
have  made  in  civilization  and  Christian  order,  under  the  pa 
tronage  of  the  Colonization  Society.  Imagine  to  yourself, 
some  two  or  three  hundred  houses,  with  streets  intersecting 
each  other  at  regular  distances,  preserved  clean  as  the  best 
swept  side-walk  in  Philadelphia,  and  lined  with  well  planted 
hedges  of  Cassava  and  of  Plum  ;  a' school-house  full  of  or 
derly  children,  neatly  dressed,  and  studiously  engaged  ;  and 
then  say  whether  I  was  guilty  of  extravagance,  in  exclaim 
ing  as  I  did,  after  surveying  this  most  lovely  scene,  that  had 
the  Colonization  Society  accomplished  no  more  than  has 
been  done  in  the  rescue  from  slavery  and  savage  habits  of 
these  happy  people,  I  should  have  been  well  satisfied." 

'  North-east  of  Monrovia,  twenty  miles,  on  the  same 
river,  at  the  foot  of  the  highlands,  is  another  flourishing 
town  called  Millsburgh,  containing  about  500  inhabitants, 
two  churches,  and  one  school,  and  rapidly  increasing  by  new 
colonists.  Millsburgh  has  peculiar  advantages,  enabling  it 
to  become  the  commercial  medium  between  the  interior  and 
the  sea-coast.*  The  land  is  fertile,  and  the  forests  abound 
with  excellent  timber.  The  town  is  represented  as  very 

*The  St.  Paul's  River  is  supposed  to  have  a  course  of  from  200  to  300 
milef. 


FLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  205 


Marshall. — Cape  Palmas. — Address  of  Colonists. 


neat  and  healthy.  Another  town  of  recent  settlement  is 
Marshall. 

*  Another  considerable  settlement  in  Liberia,  is  that  very 
flourishing  colony  formed  under  the  patronage  of  the  Mary 
land  Colonization  Society,  and  also  fostered  by  the  State, 
at  Cape  Palmas,  called  New  Maryland.  This  colony,  which 
now  numbers  between  three  and  four  hundred  inhabitants,  is 
advantageously  located,  and  promises  to  excel  in  agricul 
ture.  Its  situation  is  high,  open,  free  from  any  surrounding 
marshes,  and  most  favorable  to  health.  Its  inhabitants  are 
represented  as  temperate,  intelligent,  and  industrious  ;  and 
as  giving  evidence  of  mental  as  well  as  physical  energy,  that 
greatly  encourages  the  confident  hope  and  expectation  that 
they  will  yet  occupy  an  honorable  rank  among  the  civilized 
world, 

'  I  must  give  you  an  extract  from  an  address  from  this 
colon^  to  the  colored  people  of  the  United  States.  "  We 
wish,"  say  they,  "  to  be  candid.  It  is  not  every  man  that 
we  can  honestly  advise,  or  desire  to  come  to  this  country. 
To  those  who  are  contented  to  live  and  educate  their  chil 
dren  as  house  servants  and  lackeys,  we  would  say,  stay 
where  you  are  ;  here  we  have  no  masters  to  employ  you. 
To  the  indolent,  heedless,  and  slothful,  we  would  say,  tarry 
among  the  flesh-pots  of  Egypt ;  here  we  get  our  bread  by 
the  sweat  of  our  brow.  To  drunkards  and  rioters,  we 
would  say,  come  not  to  us  ;  you  never  can  become  natu 
ralized  in  a  land  where  there  are  no  grog-shops,  and  where 
temperance  and  order  is  the  motto.  To  the  timorous  and 
suspicious,  we  would  say,  stay  where  you  have  protectors; 
here  we  protect  ourselves.  But  the  industrious,  enterpris 
ing,  and  patriotic,  of  whatever  occupation,  or  enterprise — 
the  mechanic,  the  merchant,  the  farmer,  and  especially  the 
latter,  we  would  counsel,  advise,  and  entreat,  to  come  over, 
and  be  one  with  us,  and  assist  us  in  this  glorious  enterprise, 


206  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


Ed ina. — Cove. — Fertility  of  Liberia. 


and  enjoy  with  us  that  liberty  to  which  we  ever  were,  and 
to  which  the  man  of  color  ever  must  be  a  stranger,  in  America. 
To  the  ministers  of  the  gospel,  both  white  and  colored,  we 
would  say,  come  over  to  this  great  harvest,  and  diffuse 
amongst  us  and  our  benighted  neighbors,  the  light  of  the 
gospel,  without  which  liberty  itself  is  but  slavery,  and  free 
dom  perpetual  bondage." 

4  Besides  these,  there  are  the  flourishing  settlements  more 
recently  commenced  at  Edina  and  Bassa  Cove,  the  one 
beautifully  situated  on  the  south,  and  the  other  on  the 
north  side  of  the  St.  John's,  near  its  mouth,  of  which  I 
will  give  you  a  particular  account  at  another  time.  Also, 
about  eighty  miles  south-east  from  Bassa  Cove,  on  the  river 
Sinon,  the  Mississippi  Colonization  Society  have  purchased 
a  territory,  and  commenced  a  colony.  The  Louisiana  So 
ciety  propose  the  settlement  of  a  colony  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  same  river.  And  soon  I  hope  to  be  able  to  tell  you 
of  the  prosperity  of  the  colony  which  Virginia,  by  her  State 
Colonization  Society,  has  resolved  to  plant  upon  the  African 
coast,  within  the  Liberian  territory,  and  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Parent  Society,  to  bear  the  name  of  New  Virginia ; 
also  that  Kentucky  has  a  prosperous  colony  there ;  and  in 
deed  that  many  States  have  in  Liberia,  distinct  colonies, 
lining  the  coast  of  western  Africa,  for  many  hundred  miles, 
and  thus  furnishing  a  barrier  to  the  approach  of  the  slaver, 
on  the  one  side,  whilst  on  the  other,  they  pour  the  light  of 
civilization  and  Christianity  upon  benighted  millions.' 

4  The  prosperity  of  Liberia  is  truly  wonderful,'  said 
Henry  ;  '  but  I  have  heard  it  asserted,  that  the  soil  is  sterile. 
It  has  been  said  that  the  country  is  mostly  a  desert.' 

4  A  more  fertile  soil,  Henry,  and  a  more  productive  coun 
try,  I  suspect  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  on  the  face  of  the 
earth.  Its  hills  and  its  plains  are  covered  with  a  verdure 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  207 


Testimony  of  Park. — Productions. 


that  never  fades ;  the  productions  of  nature  keep  on  in  their 
growth  through  all  seasons  of  the  year ;  and  even  the  natives 
of  the  country,  almost  without  farming  tools  or  skill,  with 
very  little  labor,  make  more  grain  and  vegetables  than  they 
can  consume,  and  often  more  than  they  can  sell.  They  who 
represent  Liberia  as  sterile,  must  do  so  through  pitiable  igno 
rance,  or  a  criminal  design  to  injure  the  colony. 

'  It  is  true,  there  are  in  Africa,  extensive  deserts :  but 
what  should  we  think  of  an  attempt  to  persuade  us,  who  are 
surrounded  with  the  luxuries  of  a  genial  soil  and  climate, 
that  our  continent  is  an  uninhabitable  waste,  because  it 
contains  within  its  limits,  "rocky  mountains,"  "dismal 
swamps,"  and  "  barrens  ?"  Mr.  Park,  the  traveller,  says, 
"  All  the  rich  and  valuable  productions,  both  of  the  East  and 
West  Indies,  might  easily  be  naturalized,  and  brought  to  the 
utmost  perfection  in  the  tropical  parts  of  this  immense  con 
tinent.  Nothing  is  wanting  to  this  end,  but  example  to  en 
lighten  the  minds  of  the  natives,  and  instruction  to  enable 
them  to  direct  their  industry  to  proper  objects.  It  was  not 
possible  for  me  to  behold  the  wonderful  fertility  of  the  soil ; 
the  vast  herds  of  cattle,  proper  both  for  labor  and  food ; 
and  a  variety  of  other  circumstances  favorable  to  coloniza 
tion  and  agriculture ;  and  reflect,  withal,  on  the  means 
which  presented  themselves  of  a  vast  inland  navigation, 
without  lamenting  that  a  country  so  gifted  and  favored  by 
nature,  should  remain  in  its  present  savage  and  neglected 
state." 

*  Indeed,  all  tourists  and  journalists,  who  have  explored 
the  continent  of  Africa,  whilst  they  find  barren  spots,  pic 
ture  also  widely-extended  regions  of  the  most  exuberant 
and  astonishing  fertility — an  exuberance  affording  so  rich 
and  spontaneous  a  profusion  of  productions,  that  the  un- 
governed  natives  have  not  the  necessary  excitement  to  exer 
tion.  Liberia  lays  claim,  supported  by  the  testimony  of 


208  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Resources. 


undoubted  witnesses,  to  equal  fertility  with  any  other  portion 
of  the  continent. 

'  The  colonists  have  all  the  domestic  animals  which  are 
found  in  this  country.  They  raise  a  great  variety  of  vegeta 
bles  and  tropical  fruits.  Coffee  grows  spontaneously,  and 
of  an  excellent  kind.  The  attention  of  several  of  the  most 
respectable  colonists  has  been  turned  to  its  cultivation,  and 
20,000  coffee  trees  have  been  planted  by  a  single  individual. 
The  indigo  plant  is  indigenous,  and  grows  wild  almost  every 
where  on  the  coast ;  cotton  is  easily  cultivated  and  the  crops 
are  productive  ;  the  sugar-cane  is  found  on  many  parts  of  the 
coast  of  Africa,  and  may  be  cultivated  in  Liberia ;  rice  is 
easy  of  cultivation,  and  has  long  been  the  principal  article  of 
food  to  the  natives ;  bananas  of  an  excellent  and  delicious 
kind,  plantains,  oranges,  fine  flavored  and  very  large,  and 
limes,  are  common ;  maize,  or  Indian  corn,  ripens  in  three 
months,  and  succeeds  well ;  pineapples  are  very  good  and 
in  great  abundance ;  cocoanut  trees  flourish  well ;  pump 
kins,  squashes  or  simelins,  cucumbers,  watermelons,  and 
muskmelons,  arrive  at  great  perfection  in  that  climate  ;  cas- 
sada  and  yams  are  found  in  all  parts  of  the  coast,  and  are 
much  used  for  food ;  palm  oil  is  produced  in  abundance ; 
tamarinds  of  various  kinds  ;  gum  Senegal  and  copal  are  arti 
cles  of  export  in  vast  quantities ;  pepper,  and  a  variety  of 
other  spices,  including  cayenne,  ginger,  cubebs,  cardamum, 
nutmegs,  and  cinnamon,  are  common  on  the  coast ;  several 
valuable  dye-woods  are  found,  of  which  camwood  and  bar- 
wood  are  exported  in  considerable  quantities  ;  gold  abounds 
in  many  parts  of  Africa,  and  the  amount  exported  may  be 
greatly  increased  ;  ivory  is  also  a  great  article  of  commerce, 
and  timber  of  almost  every  quality.  All  these,  and  many 
other  productions,  are  found  in  Africa,  and  are,  or  may  be, 
sources  of  advantage  and  of  profit  to  the  Liberian  colony. 
The  hte  colonial  agent  speaks  of  seeing  at  one  of  the 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  209 


Commerce  of  Liberia. 


tiful  villages  of  the  recaptured  Africans,  a  tract  of  one  hun 
dred  acres  planted  with  cassada,  interspersed  with  patches 
of  Indian  corn  and  sweet  potatoes.* 

*  The  colony,  I  should  think,  would  enjoy  very  considera 
ble  commercial  advantages.' 

'  Yes,  Henry  ;  such  is  the  position  of  the  colony,  that  its 
commercial  advantages  are  great.  It  is  the  central  point  in 
a  long  extent  of  sea  coast ;  and  extensive  relations  of  trade 
may  be  established  between  it  and  a  vast  interior.  New 
avenues  are  continually  opening  with  the  interior  tribes,  and 
no  one  can  calculate  the  importance  which  some  parts  of  Li 
beria  may  be  expected  to  assume  at  some  future,  and  not  far 
distant  day.' 

*  The  colony  is  already  engaged  considerably  in  com 
merce,  is  it  not,  Sir  ?' 

'  Yes  ;  and,  my  son,  it  may  be  interesting  to  notice  the 
progress  which  the  colony  is  making  in  this  department  of 
wealth  and  prosperity.  From  January  7,  1826,  to  June  15, 
1826,  the  nett  profits  on  wood  and  ivory  alone,  passing 
through  the  hands  of  the  settlers,  was  $30,786.  Passing  on 
to  1829,  we  find  the  exports  of  African  products  to  amount 
to  $60,000.  In  1831,  46  vessels,  21  of  which  were  Ameri 
can,  visited  the  colony,  and  the  amount  of  exports  was 
$88,911.  During  the  year  ending  May  1,  1832,  59  vessels 
had  visited  the  port  of  Monrovia,  and  the  exports  during  the 
same  period  amounted  to  $125,549  16,  whilst  the  imports 
amounted  to  $80,000. 

'  A  portion  of  the  colonists  are  continually  and  actively 
engaged  in  trade,  disposing  to  the  natives,  of  English  and 
American,  and  other  goods,  and  receiving  in  retnrn  dye- 
woods,  ivory,  hides,  gold,  palm  oil,  tortoise  shell,  rice,  &c., 
which  become  articles  of  exportation  and  of  great  profit. 


210 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Enterprise  of  Liberia. — Prosperity. 


'  Hand  in  hand  with  the  progress  of  civilization,  will  be 
the  march  of  commerce.  Even  now,  the  harbor  of  Monro 
via  presents,  at  times,  a  most  animating  scene  to  the  beholder, 
of  commercial  activity  and  enterprise.  You  may  see  there 
often  the  harbor  whitened  with  sails — they  are  anchoring 
and  taking  their  departure — lading  and  unlading — ware 
houses  are  stored  with  rich  cargoes — you  hear  the  busy 
hum  of  industry — you  see  the  alert  movements  of  busy 
men,  once,  most  of  them,  sluggard  slaves  !  Freedom  has 
transformed  them  into  another  kind  of  men. 

'  ELLIOTT  CRESSON,  ESQ.,  a  generous  and  constant  friend 
of  the  African  race,  as  well  as  sincere  patriot,  who  has  al 
ready  achieved  for  himself  imperishable  honor  by  his  inde 
fatigable  and  disinterested  efforts  in  the  cause  of  this  noble 
philanthropy,  thus  expresses  himself  in  an  address  before 
the  Colonization  Society,  at  their  fourteenth  anniversary, 
which  was  as  long  ago  as  1831  : — "  Only  nine  years  have 
elapsed  since  the  little  band  of  colonists  landed  at  the  cape, 
and  a  nation  has  already  sprang  into  existence — a  nation  des 
tined  to  secure  to  ^Ethiopia  the  fulfilment  of  the  glorious 
prophecy  made  in  her  behalf.  Already  have  kings  thrown 
down  their  crowns  at  the  feet  of  the  infant  republic,  and 
formed  with  her  a  holy  alliance,  for  the  holy  purpose  of  ex 
changing  the  guilty  traffic  in  human  flesh  and  blood  for  legi 
timate  commerce,  equal  laws,  civilization  and  religion, 

1  From  many  an  ancient  river, 

From  many  a  palmy  plain, 
They  call  us  to  deliver 

Their  land  from  error's  chain.' 

They  ask  for  schools,  factories,  churches.  Nearly  2,000 
freemen  have  kindled  a  beacon  fire  at  Monrovia,  to  cast  a 
broad  blaze  of  light  into  the  dark  recesses  of  that  benighted 
land ;  and  although  much  pains  has  been  taken  to  overrate 
the  cost,  and  undervalue  the  results,  yet  the  annals  of  eoloni- 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA.  211 


Prosperity. 


zation  may  be  triumphantly  challenged  for  a  parallel.  Five 
years  of  preliminary  operations  were  requisite  for  surveying 
the  coast,  propitiating  the  natives,  and  selecting  the  most  eli 
gible  site ;  numerous  agents  were  subsequently  employed, 
ships  chartered,  the  forest  cleared ;  school-houses,  factories, 
hospitals,  churches,  government  buildings,  and  dwellings 
erected,  and  the  many  expenses  requisite  here  defrayed ;  and 
yet,  for  every  $50  expended  by  our  Society  from  its  com 
mencement,  we  have  not  only  a  settler  to  show,  but  an 
ample  and  fertile  territory  in  reserve,  where  our  future  emi 
grants  may  sit  under  their  own  vines  and  fig-trees  with  none 
to  make  them  afraid.  During  the  last  year,  an  amount 
nearly  equal  to  the  united  expenditures  in  effecting  these  ob 
jects,  has  been  exported  by  the  colonists ;  and  from  Phila 
delphia  alone,  11  vessels  have  sailed,  bearing  to  the  land  of 
their  forefathers  a  large  number  of  slaves  manumitted  by  the 
benevolence  of  their  late  owners."  Much  more  may  be  said 
in  reference  to  the  greatness  of  the  success  of  the  colony  at 
the  present  time.' 


212  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


Climate. 


CONVERSATION   XXII. 


"The  condition  of  Africa,  just  in  proportion  as  she  is  improved,  will  re 
flect  beneficial  influences  on  our  own  country.  As  Africa  rises  in  the  scale 
of  improvement,  and  sends  over  the  earth  a  respect  for  her  name  and  her 
people,  so  shall  we  look  with  increasing  interest  and  sympathy  upon  her  de 
graded  children  that  are  cast  on  our  shores.  And  just  in  proportion  as  she 
emerges  from  barbarism,  and  puts  on  the  garments  of  civilization,  will  she 
attract  our  colored  people  to  return  to  her,  and  dispel  the  dread  which  is 
now  common  to  them,  of  emigrating  to  a  land  of  barbarism." — Gerrit  Smith. 

*  THE   unhealthiness  of  the   climate,  I  suppose,  is  the 
greatest  obstacle  in  the  way  of  the  prosperity  of  the  colony 
at  Liberia,  is  it  not,  Pa?'  said  Caroline,  on  the  conversation 
being  resumed. 

*  Liberia  has  the  reputation  among  many  of  being  un 
healthy,'  said  Mr.  L.     *  If  we  should  judge,  however,  only 
by  the  health  of  the  natives  on  that  part  of  the  African  coast, 
we  should  suppose  it  to  be  far  otherwise.     It  is  healthy,  it 
appears,  to  acclimated  emigrants.     When  once  acclimated, 
it  is  said  by  those  who  are  competent  to  decide,  and  who 
could  have  no  inducement  to  make  an  erroneous  report,  that 
Africa  proves  a  more  genial  climate  to  the  men  of  color  than 
any  portion  of  the  United  States.     They  enjoy,  in  Liberia, 
even  now,  a  greater  immunity  from  sickness,  and  the  pro 
portion  of  deaths  is  less  than  in  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  or 
New-York.' 

'  Have  not  a  great  proportion  of  those  who  have  emigrat 
ed  died  soon  after  their  arrival  ?' 

*  It  was  to  be  expected  that  during  the  early  years  of  the 
colony  ,many  deaths  would  occur  for  want  of  suitable  houses; 
on  account  of  the  fatigue  and  danger  to  which  the  colonists 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  213 


First  selection  of  place  unfortunate. 


were  necessarily  exposed  ;  and  in  consequence  of  the  irre 
gular  mode  of  life  at  first  almost  unavoidable. 

'  An  unfortunate  selection  was  made  for  the  first  emigrants, 
which  increased  the  mortality  among  them.  They  found  it 
impossible  to  obtain  at  that  time  a  more  suitable  place,  and 
were  compelled,  by  a  variety  of  untoward  circumstances,  to 
make  a  temporary  establishment  in  the  low,  unhealthy  island 
of  Sherbro.  While  here  detained,  endeavoring  to  purchase 
land,  they  were  attacked  by  fatal  disease,  which  carried  off 
the  agent  of  the  Society  and  twenty  out  of  eighty  emigrants, 
together  with  two  agents  sent  out  by  the  United  States  Gov 
ernment.  The  second  expedition  also  suffered  much  by 
sickness  and  death.  And  deaths  were  also  frequent  among 
the  colonists  on  their  first  arrival  for  some  time.  From 
1827  to  1832,  however,  five  years,  not  one  person  in  forty 
of  those  from  the  middle  and  southern  States,  died  in  Liberia 
from  the  change  of  climate.  And  later  experience  has  proved 
that  no  unusual  danger  is  to  be  apprehended  by  any  who  are 
sober,  and  have  no  radical  defect  of  constitution.  The 
change  of  climate,  it  was  to  be  expected,  would  be  felt  more 
sensibly  by  those  who  go  from  the  northern  States,  or  from 
the  mountainous  parts  of  the  middle  States. 

*  There  is  to  me  one  consideration  which  amidst  all  that 
has  been  most  discouraging  in  the  early  mortality  of  the 
African  colony,  has  been  comforting.  It  is  this  :  whilst  the 
mortality  is  to  be  attributed  but  partially  to  causes  which 
cannot  be  controlled,  the  evil  is  limited  to  a  single  genera 
tion  :  but  the  good  accomplished  by  colonization  is  to  bless 
all  succeeding  generations.  The  natives  of  no  country  en 
joy  better  health  than  those  of  Africa  ;  and  the  children  here 
after  born  to  those  who  emigrate,  will  be  Africans,  and  know 
nothing  of  the  dangers  which  their  forefathers  may  have  en 
countered. 


214  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 

Discouragements  at  Jamestown  and  Plymouth. 

4  The  settlement  of  new  places  is  generally  atttended  with 
trials  by  sickness.  What  is  the  fact  in  respect  to  the  now 
flourishing  state  of  Louisiana  ?  The  colony  of  Ibberville 
was  begun  to  be  settled  in  1699,  and  in  the  ensuing  thirteen 
years,  2,500  colonists  were  landed  there,  out  of  whom  only 
400  whites  and  20  negroes  remained  at  the  end  of  that  time ;  on 
the  Island  of  Orleans,  where  a  settlement  was  begun  in  1717, 
the  early  settlers  died  by  hundreds  ;  and  both  settlements 
were  given  up  once  or  twice,  by  those  who  began  them,  and 
commenced  anew  by  other  hands.  It  was  so  with  James 
town,  Virginia ;  it  was  so  with  Plymouth,  Massachusetts, 
although  in  a  northern  climate.  These  both  were  desolated 
by  sickness,  and  the  mortality  was  far  greater  than  it  has 
ever  been  in  Liberia.  Five  hundred  emigrants  at  one  time 
landed  in  Jamestown,  and  in  less  than  five  months  their 
numbers  were  reduced  to  sixty.  Disaster  and  defeat  seemed 
to  embitter  all  the  struggles  of  the  Pilgrim  fathers  at  Ply 
mouth.  More  than  half  their  number  died  the  first  winter. 
And  yet  from  the  two  feeble  settlements,  at  Plymouth  and 
Jamestown,  has  sprung  a  population  which,  in  spite  of  dis 
couragements,  have  erected  towns,  cities,  and  an  empire  ! 

*  It  has  been  remarked  in  regard  to  these  early  trials  of 
colonies,  by  the  eloquent  and  excellent  Frelinghuysen,  that 
'*  such  has  been  the  course  of  divine  Providence  with  all 
colonies,  of  which  either  sacred  or  profane  history  affords  us 
any  account,  that  He  intended  to  cherish  or  to  establish.  It 
is  the  moral  and  mental  discipline  which  God  would  pre 
scribe  ;  it  is  the  discipline,  of  all  others,  calculated  to  throw 
the  human  mind  upon  its  own  resources — to  try  its  strength 
— to  call  into  action  its  powers,  and,  if  there  be  energy 
within  it  or  about  it,  it  will  be  called  into  action.  It  tries  its 
strength — its  patience — its  fortitude.  In  fact  all  the  sterner 
virtues  are  created  by  this  scheme  of  colonization.  And  it 
teaches,  above  all,  other  lessons,  for  man  to  learn-^his  deep 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  215 


Difficulties  at  Sierra  Leone. 


dependence  on  divine  power.  How  was  it  with  the  Jews, 
who  were  a  called  and  chosen  people  ?  Were  they  not  sub 
jected  to  trials  and  difficulties  ?  How  did  God  act  toward 
them  ?  After  years  of  gloomy  and  grinding  bondage  in 
Egypt,  did  he  not  send  them  to  the  land  of  promise  ?  He 
knew  they  were  degraded  and  debased  by  moral  and  corpo 
real  bondage.  And  indeed  their  debasement  we  clearly  learn 
from  their  complaints.  He  put  them  to  the  trials  which 
await  colonization.  He  led  them  through  the  howling  wild 
erness.  He  required  them  to  endure  fatigue — to  meet  the 
enemy's  onslaught.  In  the  divine  wisdom  and  mercy  they 
were  subjected  to  these  conflicts,  dangers  and  terrors,  both 
by  night  and  by  day.  And  when  discipline  had  done  its 
office,  and  when  liberty  and  the  promised  land  were  in  view, 
(and  even  then,  they  enjoyed  not  a  bed  of  down,)  even  then 
they  were  to  contend  for  every  inch  of  land  they  were  about 
to  acquire." 

*  In  respect  to  Liberia,  however,  we  are  not  reduced  to 
the  necessity  of  reasoning  from  analogy  ;  we  have  facts : 
colonies  may  be  established  on  the  coast  of  Africa,  for  co 
lonies  have  been  established  there,  and  are  flourishing.     The 
English  colony  at  Sierra  Leone,  after  many  sad  reverses  in 
its  infancy,  is  now  a  thriving  territory  with  20,000  inhabi 
tants.     It  was  founded  under  the  most  unfavorable  circum 
stances,  those  who  first  composed  it,  coming  from  a  northern 
latitude,  Nova  Scotia,  or  the  streets  of  London.     Besides 
bad  habits  prevailed  among  them,  and  did  more  for  their  de 
struction  than  the  climate. 

*  This  colony  has  ever  been  cherished  by  Christians  and 
philanthropists  in  England,  and  is  still,  as  an  institution,  full 
of  promise  to  Africa,  and  one  that  has  conferred  signal  bless 
ings  on  those  who  were  once  outcasts  in  Britain,  although 
it  has  known  no  such  prosperity  as  has  attended  the  coloniz 
ing  of  Liberia.     The  Liberian  colonies  are  no  longer  an  ex* 


216  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Difficulties  attending  new  settlements. 


periment ;  their  present  condition  is  such  that  they  speak, 
for  themselves,  a  disproval  of  all  the  predictions  that  have 
doomed  them  to  destruction,  and  all  the  calumnies  that  have 
pronounced  the  enterprise  a  failure.' 

*  There  is  great  misapprehension  in  the  public  mind,  I 
should  think,'  said  C.,  'in  regard  to  the  difficulties  generally 
attendant  upon  the  beginning  of  new  settlements ;  and  es 
pecially  in  regard  to  the  difficulties  which,  in  its  first  be 
ginning,  the  colony  of  Liberia  was  called  to  encounter,  as 
contrasted  with  those  of  similar  enterprises.' 

,  *  There  is,'  said  Mr.  L. ;  «  and  yet,  so  far  are  the  trials  of 
Liberia  from  being  greater  than  has  been  the  usual  lot  of 
similar  enterprises,  that  the  contrast  is  surprisingly  in  its 
favor.  In  fact,  comparing  its  success  with  some  other 
establishments,  we  may  safely  say  that,  after  all  that  has 
been  adverse,  if  a  remarkable  protection  afforded  the  colony 
from  enemies  without,  and  exemption  from  the  pestilence 
that  walketh  in  darkness  and  the  destruction  that  wasteth  at 
noon-day,  as  well  also  from  internal  discord  and  convulsion, 
is  any  evidence  of  the  favor  of  Providence,  that  colony  surely 
enjoys  the  divine  favor. 

'  I  will  advert  again  to  the  early  history  of  other  colonies, 
for  the  facts  in  the  case,  and  the  instruction  and  encouragement 
which  they  furnish,  are  greatly  important.  If  we  look  to 
Virginia,  the  situation  and  prospects  of  the  Virginia  colony 
in  1610,  the  first  settlement  of  which  was  attempted  in 
1585,  and  to  which  numerous  reinforcements  were  despatch 
ed  from  time  to  time  during  a  term  of  twenty-five  years,  are 
thus  depicted  by  Dr.  Holmes,  in  his  American  Annals  : 
"  Smith  left  the  colony  furnished  with  three  ships,  good  for 
tifications,  twenty-five  pieces  of  cannon,  arms,  ammunition, 
apparel,  commodities  for  trading,  and  tools  for  all  kinds  of 
labor.  At  Jamestown  there  were  nearly  sixty  houses. 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  217 


Difficulties  attending  new  settlements. 


The  settlers  had  begun  to  plant  and  to  fortify  at  five  or  six 
other  places.  The  number  of  inhabitants  was  nearly  five 
hundred.  They  had  just  gathered  in  their  Indian  harvest, 
and,  besides,  had  considerable  provision  in  their  stores. 
They  had  between  five  and  six  hundred  hogs,  an  equal  num 
ber  of  fowls,  some  goats,  and  some  sheep.  They  had  also 
boats,  nets,  and  good  accommodations  for  fishing.  But  such 
was  the  sedition,  idleness,  and  dissipation  of  this  mad  peo 
ple,  that  they  were  soon  reduced  to  the  most  miserable  cir 
cumstances.  No  sooner  was  Captain  Smith  gone,  than  the 
savages,  provoked  by  their  dissolute  practices,  and  encourag 
ed  by  their  want  of  government,  revolted,  hunted  and  slew 
them  from  place  to  place.  Nansemond,  the  plantation  at 
the  falls,  and  all  the  out-settlements,  were  abandoned.  In  a 
short  time,  nearly  forty  of  the  company  were  cut  off  by  the 
enemy.  Their  time  and  provisions  were  consumed  in  riot ; 
their  utensils  were  stolen  or  destroyed  ;  their  hogs,  sheep, 
and  fowls  killed  and  carried  off  by  the  Indians.  The  sword 
without,  and  famine  and  sickness  within,  soon  made  among 
them  surprising  destruction.  Within  the  term  of  six  months, 
of  their  whole  number,  500  persons,  sixty  only  survived ! 
These  were  mostly  poor,  famishing  wretches,  subsisting 
chiefly  on  herbs,  acorns,  and  berries.  Such  was  the  famine, 
that  they  fed  on  the  skins  of  their  dead  horses ;  nay,  they 
boiled  and  ate  the  flesh  of  the  dead.  Indeed,  they  were 
reduced  to  such  extremity,  that  had  they  not  been  relieved, 
the  whole  colony,  in  eight  or  ten  days,  would  have  been  ex 
tinct.  Such  are  the  dire  effects  of  idleness,  faction,  and  want 
of  proper  subordination."  The  English,  in  fact,  made  four 
attempts  to  colonize  Virginia  before  they  succeeded.  Once 
after  a  year's  trial,  the  whole  surviving  remnant  of  the  colony 
was  transported  back  to  England. 

'If  we  turn  our  mind   to  North  Carolina,  which  was 
settled  in  1668,  we  find,  by  Williamson's  History,  that  in 


218  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Humanity  pleads  for  colonization. 


1694,  "  the  list  of  taxables  did  not  exceed  787,  being  little 
more  than  half  the  number  that  were  there  in  1677,  seven 
teen  years  before.  Such,"  Williamson  continues,  "  were 
the  baneful  effects  of  rapine,  anarchy,  and  idleness." 

*  In  the  Plymouth  colony,  commenced  in  1620,  besides 
the  mortality  to  which  we  have  before  adverted,  that  swept 
off  half  their  number  in  the  first  six  months,  they  were  sub 
ject  to  much  inconvenience  by  reason  of  "  false-brethren," 
and  were   "  often  in  great  straits   with  the  Indians."     A 
slight  knowledge  of  the  early  history  of  "  the  Pilgrims" 
will  suffice  to  show  a  strong  contrast  in  favor  of  Liberia,  so 
far  as  the  early  difficulties  of  founding  the  colony  are  re 
garded.      At  Plymouth,   they  received  frequent   reinforce 
ments,  and  yet  there  remained  but  300  colonists  in  the  year 
.1630.     Two  hundred  persons,  out  of  fifteen  hundred,  that 
came  with  John  Winthrop  to  Boston  in  1630,  died  in  six 
months  !     A  sensible  writer  has  well  said,  '*  what  incalcu 
lable  benefits  had  been  lost  to  the  world,  had  the  first  set 
tlers  of  these  United  States  retired  faint  and  despairing  from 
ous  shores,  at  the  first  blow  and  shock  of  calamity  ?    God  be 
praised  for  their  firmness  of  heart !" 

•  Another  consideration  has  been  one  of  interest  to  me, 
amidst  all  discouraging  reports  concerning  the  health  of  the 
first  emigrants ;  if  colonies  can  be  once  planted  along  the 
shores  of  Africa,  and  the  slave-trade  cut  off,  a  vast  sacrifice 
of  life  will  thereby  be  prevented.     In  a  single  slave-ship, 
more  persons  have  perished,  often  in  indescribable  agony, 
than  have  died  from  the  influence  of  climate,  since  the  origin 
of  the  colony  of  Liberia.     The  slave-trade,  it  has  been  well 
remarked   by  Judge  Story  of    Massachusetts,    "desolates 
whole  villages  and  provinces.     *     *     The  blood  of  thou 
sands  of  the  miserable  children  of  Africa  has  stained  her 
shores,  or  quenched  the  dying  embers  of  her  desolated  towns 
to  glut  the  appetite  of  slave-dealers.     The  ocean  has  receiv- 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  219 


Honor  to  be  pioneers  in  this  cause. 


ed  in  its  deep  and  silent  bosom,  thousands  more,  who  perish 
ed  from  disease  and  want,  during  their  passage  from  their 
native  homes"  to  foreign  climes. 

*  It  has  been  ascertained  that  an  average  of  not  less  than 
100,000  per  annum,  have  been  transported  from  Africa,  and 
that  half  the  number  have  ordinarily  died  within  two  years, 
either  during  the  passage  or  seasoning.  Fifty  thousand 
deaths  every  year,  occasioned  by  the  slave-trade !  In  the 
name  of  humanity  and  of  our  holy  religion,  then,  we  may 
ask  every  one  to  judge  whether  the  glorious  work  of  esta 
blishing  civilized  and  Christian  colonies  along  the  coast  of 
Africa  shall  be  abandoned,  because  some  few  suffer  and  die 
in  efforts  to  redeem  themselves  and  save  their  dying  fellow- 
men?  The  amount  of  suffering  prevented  and  the  lives  saved 
by  the  American  Colonization  Society,  is  incalculable  ;  vastly 
more  than  all  the  sacrifice  of  life,  and  all  the  sufferings  or 
privations  which  will  ever  be  endured  in  accomplishing  the 
regeneration  of  that  great  continent  and  the  salvation  of  gene 
ration  after  generation  of  untold  millions. 

'  To  be  useful,  is  to  be  blessed.  And  our  Saviour  has  said 
4 '  It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive."  They  who 
laid  the  foundations  of  the  colony  at  Liberia,  will  testify  that 
they  have  already  reaped  a  rich  reward  for  all  their  toils. 
They  will  unitedly  declare  that  the  blessings  now  theirs,  have 
a  value  far  beyond  the  price  they  cost.  When  they  look  to 
the  future — when  they  consider  the  privileges  and  blessings 
secured  to  their  posterity,  they  feel  that  the  worth  of  these 
is  inestimable.  And  they  who  fell  martyrs  in  sounding  the 
trump  of  jubilee  in  the  land  of  the  oppressed — in  a  land 
of  comparative  barbarism  ;  to  call  the  nations  forth  to  the 
light  and  blessings  of  civilized  life — in  a  land  of  blood  and 
crime ;  to  hold  up  before  the  people  the  sign  of  the  cross, 
that  purity  and  peace,  the  hope  of  immortal  glory  and  ever 
lasting  songs  of  salvation,  may  supplant  the  dark  influence 


220  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Delightful  climate  for  blacks. 


of  the  destroyer  of  souls ;  have  fallen  in  a  noble  attempt, 
and  will  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance  by  generations  yet 
unborn. 

«  A  very  sensible  address  is  now  before  me,  adopted  "at  a 
numerous  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Monrovia,"  in  Liberia, 
which  speaks  well  to  the  point.  The  meeting,  it  seems, 
was  called,  and  held  at  the  court-house  in  Monrovia,  in  1827, 
"  for  the  purpose  of  considering  the  expediency  of  uniting 
in  an  address  to  the  colored  people  of  the  United  States." 
In  the  address  they  say,  "  We  enjoy  health,  after  a  few 
months'  residence  in  this  country,  as  uniformly,  and  in  as 
perfect  a  degree  as  we  possessed  that  blessing  in  our  native 
country.  *  *  Death  occasionally  takes  a  victim  from  our 
number,  without  any  regard  at  all  to  his  residence  in  the 
country  ;  but  we  never  hoped  by  leaving  America  to  escape 
the  common  lot  of  mortals.  But  we  do  expect  to  live  as 
long,  and  pass  this  life  with  as  little  sickness  as  yourselves. 
*  *  Nothing  like  an  epidemic  has  ever  appeared  in  the 
colony  ;  nor  can  we  learn  from  the  natives,  that  the  calami 
ty  of  a  sweeping  sickness  ever  yet  visited  this  part  of  the 
continent.  The  change  from  a  temperate  to  a  tropical  coun 
try  is  a  great  one — too  great  not  to  affect  the  health  more  or 
less.  In  the  early  years  of  the  colony,  want  of  good  houses, 
the  great  fatigues  and  dangers  of  the  settlers,  their  irregular 
mode  of  living,  and  the  discouragements  they  met  with, 
greatly  helped  the  other  causes  of  sickness  which  prevailed 
to  an  alarming  extent,  and  was  attended  with  great  mortality. 
But  we  look  back  to  those  times  as  to  a  season  of  trial  long 
past,  and  nearly  forgotten." ' 

' 1  have  no  doubt,'  said  Caroline,  « that  after  the  first  sea 
son,  Liberia  is  a  delightful  climate  for  the  blacks.  They 
have  constitutions  probably  better  adapted  to  that  climate 
than  to  ours.' 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  221 


Delightful  climate  for  blacks. 


*  Yes,  Caroline,  the  colored  man  going  to  Africa,  goes  to 
the  lands  of  his  fathers,  for  a  residence  in  which  nature  has 
peculiarly  fitted  him.     We  should  sicken  and  die  where  the 
native  African,  invigorated  under  the  influence  of  a  vertical 
sun,  glories  in  its  blaze,  and  grapples  with  the   lion    of  the 
desert.     Expose  the  African  to  the  cold  blasts  of  a  northern 
clime,  he  shivers  and  drags  out  a  miserable  existence,  whilst 
the  white  man  can  bare  his  bosom  to  the  blast.     "Nature," 
says  Mr.  Custis,  "seems  to  draw  a  line  of  demarcation   be 
tween  the  country  of  the  white  man  and  the  black."* 

*  It  sometimes  has  been  said  that  Europeans  will,  notwith 
standing  the  planting  of  colonies  along  the  coast,  and  after 
all  that  can  be  done  for  Africa,  hold  the  mouths  of  the  rivers 
emptying  round  the  Cape  of  Western  Africa ;  and  that  the 
African  will  always,  therefore,  be  measurably  under  the  in 
fluence  of  a  promiscuous  white  population.     To  me,  how 
ever,  it  seems  most  obvious,  that  the  elastic  pressure  of  a 
colored  population  in  Africa  will,  and  must,  ultimately,  ex- 

*"  There  seems  to  be  a  peculiar  fitness  in  placing  the  negro  in  Africa, 
when  it  is  recollected  that  large  portions  of  its  immense  tracts  are  suited 
only  to  his  constitution.  The  white  man  will  languish  and  die  beneath  a 
sun  which  is  congenial  to  the  nature  of  the  black  man.  Nature  herself, 
therefore,  would  seem  to  concur  with  philanthropy,  unless  it  be  thought  that 
she  designed  those  regions,  which  are  so  well  calculated  for  the  residence 
of  the  latter,  and  for  him  only,  to  lie  waste  and  uninhabited." — Tyson. 

"  If  we  look  to  that  well-marked  and  vast  peninsula,  we  find  that  equally 
marked  race,  the  negro,  with  slight  modifications,  forming  its  native  popula 
tion  throughout  all  its  regions.  We  find  the  temperature  of  his  blood,  the 
chemical  action  of  his  skin,  the  very  texture  of  his  wool  hair,  all  fitting  him 
for  the  vertical  sun  of  Africa  ;  and  if  every  surviving  African  of  the  pre 
sent  day  who  is  living  in  degradation  and  destitution  in  other  lands,  for 
which  he  was  never  intended,  was  actually  restored  to  the  peculiar  land  of 
his  peculiar  race,  in  independence  and  comfort,  would  any  man  venture  to 
affirm,  that  Christianity  has  been  lost  sight  of  by  all  who  had  in  any  ways 
contributed  to  such  a  consummation?  It  matters  not  to  brotherly  love  on 
which  side  of  the  Atlantic  the  negro  is  made  enlightened,  virtuous,  and 
happy,  if  he  is  actually  so  far  blessed  ;  but  it  does  matter  on  which  side  of 
the  ocean  you  place  him,  when  there  is  ONLY  ONE  WHERE  HE  WILL  BE  HAPPY 
AND  RESPECTABLE  as  benevolence  would  wish  to  see  him,  and  certainly  there, 
a  rightly  applied  morality  and  religion  would  sanction  his  being  placed." — 
Edinburgh  Phrenological  Journal. 

s  2 


222  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Aid  from  the  United  States. 


elude  all  other  people.  It  is  the  land  of  the  colored  ;  and  we 
may  confidently  say  of  Africa, 

"  Despite  of  every  yoke  she  bears, 
That  land  of  glory  still  is  theirs." 

The  advantage  in  physical  constitution  which  the  blacks 
will  enjoy,  is  one  which  will  give  them  decided  superiority 
to  all  other  people  as  occupants  of  the  soil.  The  puny  and 
sickly  colonies  of  other  nations  can  never  compete  with 
them.  The  sceptre  of  influence  will,  without  a  doubt,  be 
ultimately  wielded  in  Africa  by  those  whom  heaven  has  ap 
pointed  to  wield  it,  the  blacks  themselves  ;  they  will  receive 
their  character  chiefly,  I  have  no  doubt,  from  emigrants  going 
from  our  own  shores. 

'  We  must  now  close  the  subject  for  the  present.  Each 
of  us,  I  trust,  in  conclusion,  can  say  from  the  heart,  of  that 
vast,  injured,  benighted,  but  awaking  continent, 

"  Oh  !  to  thy  godlike  destiny  arise — 
Awake,  and  meet  the  purpose  of  the  skies!"  ' 


CONVERSATION   XXIII. 


"The  removal  of  our  colored  population  is,  I  think,  a  common  object,  by 
no  means  confined  to  the  slave  States,  although  they  are  more  immediately 
interested  in  it.  The  whole  Union  would  be  strengthened  by  it,  and  re 
lieved  from  a  danger,  whose  extent  can  scarcely  be  estimated." — Marshall. 

*  You  observed  in  your  last  conversation,'  said  Henry, 
*  that  agents  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States  went 
out  with  the  first  emigrants  sent  to  Africa  by  the  Coloniza 
tion  Society :  why  were  agents  sent  by  the  United  States  ?' 

4  In  the  act  of  Congress  for  the  suppression  of  the  slave- 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  223 


Aid  from  the  United  States. 


trade,  passed  in  the  year  1807,  there  was  a  clause  by  which 
negroes  brought  into  the  United  States,  in  consequence  of 
the  law  authorizing  the  capture  of  vessels  engaged  in  the 
slave-trade,  were  to  be  "subject  to  any  regulations  not  con 
travening  the  provisions  of  the  act,  which  the  legislatures  of 
the  several  States  and  Territories  might  make  for  the  dispos 
ing  of  such  negroes."  By  an  act  of  the  Georgia  legislature, 
in  1817,  captured  negroes  brought  into  Georgia  in  pursuance 
of  the  aforesaid  act  of  Congress,  were  to  be  sold,  or  deliver 
ed  to  the  Colonization  Society  to  be  returned  to  Africa.  A 
slaver  containing  thirty-eight  negroes  was  captured  by  one 
of  the  United  States  vessels,  and  brought  into  Georgia.  The 
negroes  were,  according  to  law,  advertised  for  sale.  The 
Colonization  Society,  availing  itself  of  the  provisions  of  the 
law  above  referred  to,  applied  for  the  slaves  to  be  returned 
to, Africa,  paid  as  was  necessary  the  expenses  incurred  on 
their  account,  and  rescued  the  victims  of  piratical  cupidity 
from  perpetual  slavery.  Cases  of  this  kind  having  previously 
occurred,  had  directed  the  attention  of  Congress  to  the  ne 
cessity  of  providing  somewhere  an  asylum  for  recaptured 
negroes,  and  a  law  had  been  enacted  authorizing  the  Presi 
dent  to  make  such  regulations  and  arrangements  as  he  might 
deem  expedient  for  their  safe-keeping,  support,  and  removal 
beyond  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  and  also  to  appoint  a 
proper  person  or  persons  residing  on  the  coast  of  Africa,  as 
agent  or  agents,  in  the  fulfilment  of  such  arrangements  in 
respect  to  all  negroes  seized  by  United  States'  vessels.  It 
was  thought  that  the  ends  of  this  act  could  be  better  accom 
plished  by  the  aid  of  the  Colonization  Society  ;  and  accord 
ingly,  the  first  expedition  to  Liberia,  in  1820,  was  by  the 
Colonization  Society  and  the  U.  S.  Government  in  conjunc 
tion.  The  Elizabeth  was  chartered,  and  took  to  the  coast 
two  Government  agents,  one  Colonial  agent,  and  about 
eighty  emigrants,  the  latter  of  whom  were  to  be  employed 


224  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Ashmun's  defence  of  the  colony. 


at  the  expense  of  the  Government  in  preparing  accommoda 
tions  for  the  reception  of  the  recaptured  negroes/ 

'  This  expedition,  Sir,  you  remarked,  were  very  unfortu 
nate  in  their  location,  which  you  said  was  on  the  river  Sher- 
bro  :  is  that  in  Liberia  ?' 

*  No,  Henry ;  it  is  200  miles  north  of  Liberia,  and  100 
miles  south  of  Sierra  Leone.  It  was  not  until  1822,  that  a 
permanent  location  was  obtained  at  Cape  Mesurado.' 

4  The  colony  had  much  difficulty  with  the  natives  at  its 
commencement,  had  it  not  ?' 

1  They  had ;  and  perhaps  it  has  been  correctly  said  that 
no  struggle  of  ancient  or  modern  times  surpasses  the  defence 
which  that  little  band  of  colonists  made.  The  lamented 
Ashmun,  forced  in  opposition  to  all  his  habits  and  feelings, 
to  become  a  warlike  commander,  acquitted  himself  in  a  man 
ner  that  discovered  military  skill  of  the  highest  order.  With 
out  ever  aspiring  to  military  renown,  he  shone  forth,  a  hero 
in  arms,  whose  coolness,  firmness,  wisdom,  and  courage 
could  hardly  be  surpassed.  The  little  band  of  thirty-five  Af 
rican  emigrants,  about  one  half  of  whom  only  were  engaged 
in  action,  were  threatened  by  a  host,  whose  numbers  were 
untold,  and  destruction  seemed  inevitable.  Ashmun  was 
himself  sick,  of  fever;  and  was,  besides,  in  great  affliction, 
having  just  buried  his  wife,  an  amiable  and  heroic  woman 
who  insisted  on  sharing  her  husband's  toils  and  dangers  in 
Africa ;  but  notwithstanding,  he  rose  from  the  bed  of  sick 
ness,  and  day  by  day,  after  tossing  with  the  delirium  of  a 
burning  fever  through  the  night,  spent  his  time  in  directing 
his  little  band  in  constructing  their  hasty  and  imperfect  de 
fences,  and  teaching  them  to  manage  their  artillery,  and  how 
to  succor  each  other  in  their  defence.  The  result  was,  the 
natives  were  successfully  repulsed,  and  the  colony  was  saved 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  225 


Ashmun's  death. 


from  destruction ;  whilst  such  an  impression  was  made  on 
the  natives  as  put  to  rest,  probably  for  ever,  any  thought  of 
a  similar  attempt.' 

*  I  suppose,'  said  Henry,  *  it  is  in  reference  to  this  exploit 
particularly,  that  Ashmun  is  sometimes  called  the  founder  of 
the  colony  of  Liberia  ?  Mr.  Ashmun  died  at  New  Haven — 
I  have  seen  his  monument — he  died  soon  after  arriving  there 
from  Liberia  for  his  health.  But,  falling  a  victim  to  his  de 
votion  to  the  cause  of  colonization,  I  am  sure  that  he  nobly 
died,  in  a  noble  cause.' 

1  Yes  :  Mr.  Ashmun's  great  and  untiring  efforts  continu 
ing  through  nearly  six  years  of  constant  anxiety  and  labor 
in  Africa,  destroyed  his  physical  constitution  and  brought 
him  to  a  premature  grave ;  but  he  fell  nobly.  Mr.  Ash 
mun's  life,  so  far  at  least  as  is  connected  with  Africa,  in 
which  we  are  now  more  particularly  interested,  you  will  find 
full  of  interest.' 

'  Where  was  Mr.  Ashmun  born,  Pa,  and  how  came  he  to 
embark  in  the  colonization  cause,  as  an  agent  to  Africa  ?' 

'  Mr.  A.,  whose  Christian  name  was  Jehudi,  was  born  in 
Cham  plain,  N.  Y.,  in  1794.  I  will  relate,  if  you  please, 
some  of  the  leading  incidents  of  his  history  as  they  occur, 
on  recollection.  In  his  childhood,  Mr.  A.  was  thoughtful 
and  reserved,  remarkably  fond  of  books  and  ambitious  of 
literary  distinction.  In  his  studies  he  made  rapid  progress. 
He -became  a  devoted  Christian  in  the  morning  of  his  days. 
He  graduated  at  Burlington  College,  Vt.,  and  soon  after  en 
tering  the  ministry  was  elected  Professor  in  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Bangor,  Me.  After  leaving  that  Seminary,  he 
became  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  He 
prepared  the  Memoirs  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Bacon,  the  earliest 
martyr  in  the  cause  of  colonization ;  and,  after  other  efforts 


226  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 

Ashmun  dies  praying  for  Africa. 

to  advance  the  cause,  by  which  his  feelings  were  more  and 
more  deeply  interested,  he  embarked  for  Africa  in  1822.  In 
Africa,  he  found  himself  unexpectedly  in  a  situation  where 
he  must  be  of  necessity  legislator,  engineer,  soldier,  physi 
cian  ;  almost  every  thing  that  was  needed,  his  benevolent 
heart  inclined,  and  his  superior  talents  enabled  him  to  be. 
Emphatically  a  good  man,  he  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the 
colonists,  and  of  the  Board,  and  shared  in  the  warmest  affec 
tions  of  all  that  knew  him. 

'  The  scene,  at  his  death,  is  represented  as  one  of  true 
moral  sublimity.  He  died,  as  you  have  said,  at  New  Ha 
ven,  a  few  days  after  his  return  from  Africa,  whose  shores 
he  had  left  with  feeble  health,  hoping  to  find  the  voyage  and 
a  short  residence  in  his  native  country,  conducive  to  its  re 
storation.  It  was  otherwise  ordered.  His  last  moments  were 
spent  in  fervent  prayer.  Africa  was  not  forgotten.  "  O  bless 
the  colony"  was  his  cry,  "  and  that  poor  people  among 
whom  I  have  labored.'1 

1  He  has  left  a  name  to  be  remembered  by  generations  to 
come,  when  many  who  may  now  be  far  more  conspicuous, 
will  be  forgotten.  The  gratitude  of  the  Colonization  Society* 
directed  the  monument  to  his  memory  which  you  saw  at 
New  Haven,  but  his  best  monument  is  in  the  hearts  of  the 
people,  and  that  record  of  him  which  is  on  high. 

*  A  monument  has  also  been  raised  to  his  memory  in  Liberia.  The  mo 
nument  at  New  Haven  is  alter  the  model  of  an  ancient  monument  still  in 
perfection  at  Rome,  "  the  tomb  of  Scipio."  Dr.  Silliman  describes  it  as 
"grave,  grand,  simple,  and  beautiful."  It  is  constructed  of  the  Connecticut 
red  sand  stone,  of  the  finer  variety,  seven  feet  long,  four  high,  three  and  a 
half  wide,  raised  on  a  foundation  of  one  foot.  It  is  said  above,  that  the  gra 
titude  of  the  Colonization  Society  directed  this  monument ;  but  it  is  believed 
and  should  be  stated  that  the  whole  expense  was  borne  by  the  spontaneous 
contributions  and  united  liberality  of  friends  of  humanity  and  religion,  pre 
venting  the  necessity  of  making  any  appropriation  towards  it  from  the  funds 
of  the  Society,  and  at  the  same  lime  furnishing  a  most  honorable  attestation 
of  the  gratitude  and  respect  with  which  his  devotion  to  the  best  interests  of 
the  world  is  regarded,  and  of  the  sincere  affection  with  which  his  memory 
is  cherished  by  those  "  who  have  learned  to  love  and  to  admire  the  sub 
limity  and  glory  of  virtue." 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA.  227 

Ashmun. 

"  Although  no  sculptured  form  should  deck  the  place, 
Or  marble  monument  those  ashes  grace, 
Still,  for  the  deeds  of  worth,  which  he  has  done, 
Would  flowers  unfading  flourish  o'er  his  tomb."  ' 

4  A  favorite  poetess  has  embalmed  his  memory,'   said 
Caroline  :  '  shall  I  repeat  her  words  ?' 

"  Whose  is  yon  sable  bier  ? 

Why  move  the  throng  so  slow  ? 
Why  doth  that  lonely  mother's  tear, 

In  sudden  anguish  flow  ? 
Why  is  thai  sleeper  laid 

To  rest,  in  manhood's  pride  ? 
How  gain'd  his  cheek  such  pallid  shade? 

I  spake — but  none  replied. 

The  hoarse  wave  murmured  low, 

The  distant  surges  roar'd — 
And  o'er  the  sea,  in  tones  of  wo, 

A  deep  response  was  poured. 
I  heard  sad  Afric  mourn, 

Upon  her  billowy  strand; 
A  shield  was  from  her  bosom  torn, 

An  anchor  from  her  hand. 

Ah !  well  I  know  thee  now, 

Though  foreign  suns  would  trace 
Deep  lines  of  death  upon  thy  brow — 

Thou  friend  of  misery's  race  ; 
Their  leader,  when  the  blast 

Of  ruthless  war  swept  by  ; 
Their  teacher,  when  the  storm  was  past, 

Their  guide  to  worlds  on  high. 

But  o'er  the  lowly  tomb, 

Where  thy  soul's  idol  lay, 
I  saw  thee  rise  above  the  gloom, 

And  hold  thy  changeless  way. 
Stern  sickness  woke  a  flame, 

That  on  thy  vigor  fed — 
But  deathless  courage  nerv'd  the  frame, 

When  health  and  strength  had  fled. 


228  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Government  of  Liberia. 


Spirit  of  power — pass  on ! 

Thy  homeward  wing  is  free  ; 
Earth  may  not  claim  thee  for  her  son — 

She  hath  no  chain  for  thee  : 
Toil  might  not  bow  thee  down, 

Nor  sorrow  check  thy  race — 
Nor  pleasure  win  thy  birthright  crown,- 

Go  to  thy  honor'd  place  !" 


CONVERSATION    XXIV. 

"  We  must  plead  the  cause  of  Africa  on  her  own  shores.  We  must  en 
lighten  the  Africans  themselves  on  the  nature  of  this  evil.  We  must  raise 
in  their  minds  a  fixed  abhorrence  of  its  enormities.  There  will  be  no  ships 
with  human  cargoes  if  we  cut  off  the  supply.  We  must  by  our  settlements 
point  the  African  kidnapper  to  a  more  profitable  commerce  than  that  in  the 
blood  and  heart-strings  of  his  fellow-men." — Frelinghuysen. 

*  WE  should  like  to  know  this  evening,  Pa,  something 
more  of  Liberia.  What  is  the  government  of  the  colonies  V 

1  The  government  is  in  a  great  measure  republican ;  and 
is  designed  expressly  to  prepare  the  colonists  ably  and  suc 
cessfully  to  govern  themselves.  For  the  first,  or  paient  co 
lony,  at  Monrovia,  a  form  of  government  was,  in  August  1824, 
submitted  to  the  assembled  colonists,  and  by  them  unani 
mously  adopted.  The  colonial  agent  of  the  original  colony 
receives  his  appointment  from  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the 
Colonization  Society,  and  it  is  generally  expected  that  he 
will  be  a  white  man.  All  the  other  officers  are  men  of  color, 
the  most  important  of  whom  are  elected  annually  by  the 
people.  Besides  other  officers,  Boards  of  Agriculture,  of 
Public  Works,  of  Health,  &c.  are  chosen,  and  the  whole 
business  of  the  colony  is  conducted  with  spirit  and  with 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  229 


Literary  advantages. 


much  wisdom.  A  Court  of  justice  is  established,  which 
consists  of  the  agent,  and  two  judges  chosen  by  the  people, 
and  exercises  jurisdiction  over  the  whole  colony,  meeting 
monthly  at  Monrovia.  It  is  a  highly  honorable  fact  that  no 
capital  crime  has  ever  been  committed  in  the  colony.  The 
crimes  usually  brought  before  the  court  are  thefts  committed 
by  natives  within  the  colonial  jurisdiction. 

«  The  government  of  the  colonies  at  Cape  Palmas  and  Bassa 
Cove,  is  similar  to  that  of  the  old  colony.  The  respective 
societies  which  planted  these  last,  appoint  the  Governor  of 
each.  A  Constitution  has  recently  been  proposed,  designed 
for  the  General  Government  of  Liberia,  rendered  necessary 
by  the  multiplication  of  colonies.  This  constitution  propos 
ing  a  durable  foundation  for  the  future  union,  freedom,  and 
independence  of  the  colonies,  provides  that  the  several  colo 
nial  settlements  planted  in  Liberia,  on  the  principles  of  the 
American  Colonization  Society,  shall  be  united  under  one 
government.  The  old  colony  is  to  be  known  as  the  colony 
of  Monrovia  ;  the  colonies  at  Cape  Palmas  and  Bassa  Cove 
are  to  retain  their  present  denomination,  or  to  receive  such 
other,  together  with  other  colonies  which  may  be  planted, 
as  the  societies  planting  them  may  respectively  bestow. 
The  constitution  also  provides  for  a  legislature  to  be  entitled 
the  Congress  of  Liberia,  an  executive,  a  supreme  judiciary, 
&c.  &c.' 

'  Do  the  colonists  pay  proper  attention  to  education,  and 
have  they  any  considerable  literary  advantages  ?' 

*  The  subject  of  education  has  ever  been  one  of  primary 
importance  with  the  Board  of  Colonization,  and  the  interests 
of  literature  are  promoted  as  far  as  circumstances  permit  In 
1830,  the  Board  established  permanent  schools  in  the  towns 
of  Monrovia,  Caldwell,  and  Millsburgh.  They  adopted  a 
thorough  system  of  instruction,  which  is  now  in  successful 


230  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Testimony  of  Dr.  Shane. 


operation.  There  are  two  female  schools  conducted  on  li 
beral  principles,  one  of  which  was  established  by  a  lady  in 
Philadelphia,  who  sent  out  the  necessary  books  and  teachers. 
It  is  said  that  there  is  not  a  child  or  youth  in  the  colony  but 
is  provided  with  an  appropriate  school.  Some  of  these 
schools  have  valuable  libraries.  There  is  a  public  library  at 
Monrovia  which  contains  between  1200  and  2000  volumes. 
A  printing  press  is  in  operation  there,  issuing  a  weekly  and 
well  conducted  gazette,  the  "  Liberia  Herald."  It  is  inte 
resting  to  look  over  this  sheet  and  see  the  various  advertise 
ments,  notices  of  auctions,  parades,  marriages,  &,c.*  together 
with  its  marine  list,  and  items  of  news,  as  if  the  print  were 
issued  from  the  midst  of  an  old  and  long  established  commu^ 
nity.' 

'  I  do  not  see  but  they  have  in  Liberia  already  the  ele 
ments  of  wealth  and  greatness.  They  are  beginning  to  be 
a  commercial  community  ;  and,  with  an  agricultural  interior 
in  prospect,  and  they  a  civilized  and  Christian  people,  what 
is  there  to  prevent  their  ultimate  prosperity  ?* 

'  Their  prospects  are  bright,  Henry,  very  bright.  Their 
progress,  hitherto,  has  certainly  been  rapid  and  truly  won 
derful.  Dr,  Shane,  of  Cincinnati,  went  with  a  company  of 
emigrants  to  Liberia  in  1832,  sailing  from  New-Orleans  ; 
and,  among  other  things,  writes,  "  I  see  not  in  Liberia  as 
fine  and  splendid  mansions  as  in  the  United  States ;  nor  as 
extensive  and  richly  stocked  farms  as  the  well  tilled  lands  of 
Ohio ;  but  I  see  a  fine  and  very  fertile  country,  inviting  its 
poor  and  oppressed  sons  to  thrust  in  their  sickles  and  gather 
up  its  fullness.  I  here  see  many  who  left  the  United  States 
in  straightened  circumstances,  living  with  all  the  comforts  of 
life  around  them ;  enjoying  a  respectable  and  useful  station 
in  society,  and  wondering  that  their  brethren  in  the  United 
States,  who  have  it  in  their  power,  do  not  flee  to  this  asylum 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA.  231 


Testimony  of  Captains  Kennedy,  Nicholson  and  Abels. 

of  happiness  and  liberty,  where  they  can  enjoy  all  the  un- 
alienable  rights  of  man.  *  I  do  not  think  an  unprejudiced 
person  can  visit  here  without  becoming  an  ardent  and  sincere 
friend  of  colonization.  I  can  attribute  the  apathy  and  indif 
ference  on  which  it  is  looked  by  many,  as  arising  from  ig 
norance  on  the  subject  alone,  and  would  that  every  free  co 
lored  man  in  the  United  States  could  get  a  glimpse  of  his 
brethren,  their  situation  and  prospects.  *  Let  but  the  co 
lored  man  come  and  see  for  himself,  and  the  tear  of  gratitude 
will  beam  in  his  eye,  as  he  looks  forward  to  the  not  far  dis 
tant  day,  when  Liberia  shall  take  her  stand  among  the  nations 
of  the  world,  and  proclaim  abroad  an  empire  founded  by  be 
nevolence,  offering  a  home  to  the  poor,  oppressed,  and 
weary.  Nothing  but  a  want  of  knowledge  of  Liberia,  pre 
vents  thousands  of  honest,  industrious  free  blacks  from  rush 
ing  to  this  heaven-blessed  land,  where  liberty  and  religion, 
with  all  their  blessings,  are  enjoyed."  ' 

«  Are  the  colonists  generally  contented  and  happy  in  their 
situation  ?' 

% 

'  Captain  Kennedy,  who  visited  Liberia  in  1831,  says, 
"  with  impressions  unfavorable  to  the  scheme  of  the  Coloni 
zation  Society,  I  commenced  my  inquiries."  The  colonists 
"  considered  that  they  had  started  into  a  ntw  existence.  * 
They  felt  themselves  proud  in  their  attitude"  He  further 
says,  "  many  of  the  settlers  appear  to  be  rapidly  acquiring 
property  ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  they  are  doing  better  for  them 
selves  and  for  their  children,  in  Liberia,  than  they  could  do 
in  any  other  part  of  the  world."  Captain  Nicholson,  of  the 
United  States'  Navy,  gave  as  favorable  a  report.  Captain 
Abels  says,  "  My  expectations  were  more  than  realized.  I 
saw  no  intemperance,  nor  did  I  hear  a  profane  word  uttered 
by  any  one.  I  know  of  no  place  where  the  Sabbath  seems 
to  be  more  respected  than  in  Monrovia." 


232  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Testimony  of  a  British  officer,  Governor  Mechlin  and  Captain  Sherman. 

4  A  distinguished  British  naval  officer,  who  passed  three 
years  on  the  African  coast,  published  a  favorable  notice  of 
the  colony,  in  the  Amulet  for  1832,  in  which  he  bears  this 
testimony  : — "  The  complete  success  of  this  colony  is  a 
proof  that  the  negroes  are,  by  proper  care  and  attention,  as 
susceptible  of  the  habits  of  industry,  and  the  imp:ovements 
of  social  life,  as  any  other  race  of  human  beings  ;  and  that 
the  amelioration  of  the  condition  of  the  black  people  on  the 
coast  of  Africa,  by  means  of  such  colonies,  is  not  chimerical. 
Wherever  the  influence  of  the  colony  extends,  the  slave- 
trade  has  been  abandoned  by  the  natives,  and  the  peaceable 
pursuits  of  legitimate  commerce  established  in  its  place. 
They  not  only  live  on  terms  of  harmony  and  good  will  to 
gether,  but  the  colonists  are  looked  upon  with  a  certain  de 
gree  of  respect  by  those  of  their  own  color ;  and  the  force  of 
their  example  is  likely  to  have  a  strong  effect  in  inducing  the 
people  about  them  to  adopt  it.  A  few  colonies  of  this  kind, 
scattered  along  the  coast,  would  be  of  infinite  value  in  im 
proving  the  natives." 

'  Governor  Mechlin  has  said,  "  As  to  the  morals  of  the  co 
lonists,  I  consider  them  much  better  than  those  of  the  people 
of  the  United  States ;  i.  e.  you  may  take  an  equal  number  of 
the  inhabitants  from  any  section  of  the  Union,  and  you  will 
find  more  drunkenness,  more  profane  swearers  and  Sabbath- 
breakers,  than  in  Liberia.  You  rarely  hear  an  oath,  and  as 
to  riots  and  breaches  of  the  peace,  I  recollect  but  one  instance, 
and  that  of  a  trifling  nature,  that  has  come  under  my  notice 
since  I  assumed  the  government  of  the  colony."  Captain 
Sherman  has  said,  *<  There  is  a  greater  proportion  of  moral 
and  religious  characters  iu  Monrovia  than  in  the  city  of  Phi 
ladelphia." 

'  The  Rev.  Beverly  R.  Wilson,  (an  intelligent  colored  min 
ister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,)  spent  fourteen 
months  in  Liberia,  which  he  visited  at  his  own  expense,  to 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA.  233 


Testimony  of  Rev.  Beverly  R.   Wilson. 


ascertain  whether  he  could  find  there  an  advantageous  home 
for  himself  and  family.  His  statements  are  received  by  all 
who  know  him,  as  entitled  from  his  character  to  entire  con 
fidence.  On  his  return  in  1835,  he  says,  "  Liberia  for  eli 
gibility  of  situation  is  not  often  excelled,  and  the  facilities 
held  out  for  a  comfortable  living  rarely  equalled  ;  industry 
and  economy  are  sure  to  be  rewarded  and  crowned  with  a 
generous  competency,  for  proof  of  which  I  cite  you  to  a 
Williams,  to  a  Roberts,  to  a  Barbour.  The  successful  pro 
secution  of  any  enterprise  in  Africa,  (as  in  America)  depends 
to  a  very  great  extent  upon  the  amount  of  capital  invested— 
money  is  power  every  where,  put  particularly  so  in  Africa, 
and  he  who  emigrates  thither  with  capital,  possesses  decid 
ed  and  very  great  advantages  over  every  other  class  of  emi 
grants  ;  a  small  capital  I  esteem  of  paramount  importance, 
and  would  by  all  means  persuade  my  colored  friends,  who 
intend  to  emigrate,  to  provide  themselves  with  the  means  to 
commence  business  previous  to  going.  This  I  esteem  of 
vital  importance,  and  ought  not  to  be  neglected.  The  soil 
of  Afiica  is  exceedingly  fertile,  and  will  produce  as  much  to 
the  acre  as  the  famous  lands  of  the  great  valley  of  the  Mis 
sissippi.  Fruits  of  several  kinds  are  abundant,  and  from 
experiments  made,  most  of  the  tropical  fruits  succeed  as 
well  as  in  their  native  clime.  But  little  attention  thus  far  has 
been  paid  to  agriculture,  owing  to  the  fact  that  but  few  emi 
grants  possess  the  means  to  embark  in  it.  The  cultivation  of 
the  land  is  attended  with  the  same  expense  there  as  here,  and 
the  same  obstacles  present  themselves  to  persons  destitute  pf 
money.  Timber  of  various  descriptions  abounds,  some  of 
which  would  not  for  beauty  and  durability  lose  by  a  compari 
son  with  the  mahogany  of  St.  Domingo,  or  of  any  other 
country.  I  have  seen  articles  of  cabinet  ware  manufactur 
ed  in  Monrovia  that  would  grace  our  most  fashionable  houses, 
and  would  vie  for  beauty  and  taste  with  most  of  the  same 


234  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


Testimony  of  Rev.  Beverly  R.  Wilson. 


articles  made  in  this  country.  As  it  regards  the  health  of 
the  colony,  I  consider  it  as  good  as  that  of  most  of  the  south 
ern  States.  The  Aborigines  live  to  an  advanced  period,  and 
are  unquestionably  the  most  athletic,  hardy  race  of  men  that 
I  have  ever  seen.  They  are  remarkably  shrewd  and  cun 
ning,  and  are  very  far  from  being  those  "  dolts"  or  "  idiots," 
which  they  have  been  represented  to  be  ;  many  of  them  read 
and  write,  and  are  very  frequently  an  over-match  for  the  co 
lonists  in  trade.  *  *  The  morals  of  the  colonists  I  regard 
as  superior  to  the  same  population  in  almost  any  part  of  the 
United  States.  A  drunkard  is  a  rare  spectacle,  and  when 
exhibited  is  put  under  the  ban  of  public  opinion  at  once.  To 
the  praise  of  Liberia  be  it  spoken,  I  did  not  hear  during  my 
residence  in  it,  a  solitary  oath  uttered  by  a  settler ;  this  abom 
inable  practice  has  not  yet  stained  its  moral  character  and 
reputation,  and  Heaven  grant  that  it  never  may.  In  such  de 
testation  is  the  daily  use  of  ardent  spirits  held,  that  two  of 
the  towns  have  already  prohibited  its  sale,  or  rather  confined 
the  sale  to  the  apothecaries'  shops.  In  Monrovia  it  is  still 
viewed  as  an  article  of  traffic  and  merchandise,  but  it  is  des 
tined  there  to  share  the  same  fate.  The  Temperance  So 
ciety  is  in  full  operation  and  will  ere  long  root  it  out.  The 
Sabbath  is  rigidly  observed  and  respected,  and  but  few  cases 
occur  of  disorder,  and  they  are  confined  to  the  baser  sorts,  a 
few  of  which  infest  Liberia.  Religion  and  all  its  institutions 
are  greatly  respected ;  in  fact  a  decided  majority  are  Re 
ligionists,  and  by  their  pious  demeanor  are  exerting  a  very 
salutary  influence,  not  only  upon  the  emigrants  but  also  upon 
the  natives,  among  whom  a  door  has  been  opened  for  the 
propagation  of  Christianity."* 


*Mr.  Wilson,  addressing  himself  lo  the  colored  people  in  this  country,  con 
cludes  by  saying,  "  If  you  desire  liberty,  surely  Liberia  holds  out  great  and 
distinguished  inducements.  Here,  you  can  never  be  free;  but  there,  liv 
ing  under  the  administration  of  the  laws  enacted  by  yourselves,  you  may  en 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA.  235 


Testimony  of  Dr.  Skinner. 


*  Dr.  Skinner,  formerly  Governor  of  Liberia,  who  returned 
to  this  country,  Nov.  1836,  in  his  report  to  the  Board  of  Man 
agers  of  the  American  Colonization  Society,  says,  "The 
industry  of  the  colonists  is  evidentally  on  the  increase,  and 
their  attention  has  of  late  been  especially  turned  towards  ag 
riculture.  There  appears  to  be  a  general  conviction  resting 
on  the  minds  of  the  people  that  they  must  raise  their  own 
provisions,  and  not  be  dependent  either  on  the  natives  or  for 
eigners  for  the  necessaries  of  life.  Several  of  the  colonists 
have,  during  the  past  season,  raised  corn  and  rice  in  consid 
erable  quantities,  and  some  are  beginning  to  cultivate  the  cot 
ton  plant  and  sugar  cane,  while  others  are  preparing  exten 
sive  coffee  plantations."  Dr.  S.  says  further,  "The  mor 
tality  has  been  less  than  it  has  been  generally  estimated,  and 
greatly  less  than  took  place  in  the  colonization  of  this  coun 
try."  Dr.  S.  says,  that  he  "laid  out  one  hundred  and  six 
teen  farms  for  the  New  Georgians,"  whilst  he  was  with  the 
colony,  and  further,  "I  visited  New  Georgia  a  few  days  be 
fore  I  left  the  colony,  and  was  pleased  to  see  the  increased 
energy  with  which  they  had  cultivated  their  lands,  and  the 
luxuriant  crops  of  corn,  cassada,  rice  and  potatoes,  with 
which  their  ground  was  covered,  which  but  a  few  months 
before,  was  impassable  to  man.  The  sight  was  an  ample 
compensation  for  all  my  toils,  and  all  my  sufferings.  It  is 
believed,  by  those  who  are  well  able  to  judge,  that  these  in 
dustrious  citizens,  in  the  past  season,  have  raised  four  times 
the  crops  that  they  have  obtained  in  any  previous  year." 

joy  that  freedom  which  in  the  very  nature  of  things  you  cannot  experience 
in  this  country. 

Liberia,  happy  land  !  thy  shore 

Entices  with  a  thousand  charms; 
And  calls— his  wonted  thraldom  o'er — 
Her  ancient  exile  to  her  arms. 

Come  hither,  son  of  Afric.  come, 

And  o'er  the  wide  arid  weltering  sea. 

Behold  thy  lost  yet  lovely  home, 
That  fondly  waits  to  wclcomo  thoe. 


236  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Testimony  of  Mr.  Buchanan. 


'  Mr.  Buchanan,  late  Governor  of  the  Colony  at  Bassa  Cove 
and  recently  returned  to  this  country,  says  "the  colonists 
are  prosperous,  contented,  and  happy.  Although  all  express 
the  warmest  affection  for  America,  if  you  were  to  ask  them 
whether  they  do  not  wish  to  return,  they  would  laugh  at  you." 
At  Monrovia,  Mr.  B.  "attended  a  colonization  meeting,  at 
which  the  warmest  gratitude  was  expressed  toward  the  so 
cieties  in  this  country  and  the  highest eulogium  passed  upon 
their  benevolent  enterprise,  not  only  without  a  dissenting 
voice,  but  with  enthusiasm."*  He  "also  attended  their 

*Al  this  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Monrovia,  it  was  Resolved,  That  this 
meeting  entertain  the  warmest  gratitude  lor  what  the  Colonization  Society 
have  done  for  the  people  of  color,  and  for  us  particularly,  and  that  we  re 
gard  the  scheme  as  eniitled  to  the  highest  confidence  of  every  man  of  color. 
Also,  whereas,  it  has  been  widely  and  maliciously  circulated,  in  the  United 
States  of  America,  that  the  inhabitants  of  this  colony,  are  unhappy  in  their 
situation,  and  anxious  to  return  :  Resolved,  that  the  report  is  false  and  ma 
licious,  and  originated  only  in  a  design  to  injure  the  colony,  by  calling  off 
the  support  and  .sympathy  of  its  friends  :  that,  so  far  from  a  desire  to  return, 
we  would  regard  such  an  event  as  the  greatest  calamity  that  could  befall  us. 

Among  the  sentiments  expressed  by  different  individuals  at  this  meeting, 
were  the  following,  as  reported  in  the  Liberia  Flerald  : 

Mr.  David  White,  who  arrived  in  Africa,  May  24,  1828,  said,  "Never 
have  I  seen  the  moment  in  which  1  repined  at  coming  to  the  colony.  My 
object  in  corning  was  liberty,  for  which  I  arn  willing  to  endure  greater  hard 
ships  than  those  I  have  already  encountered.  And  under  the  firm  convic 
tion  that  Africa  is  the  only  place,  under  existing  circumstances,  where  the 
man  of  color  can  enjoy  the  inestimable  blessings  of  liberty  and  equality, 
I  feel  grateful  beyond  expression  to  the  American  Colonization  Society  for 
preparing  this  peaceful  asylum." 

Mr.  George  Baxter  remarked,  "I  beg  the  liberty,  on  this  occasion,  to  ex 
press  my  deep  gratitude  to  the  American  Colonization  Society,  for  the  great 
deliverance  effected  by  them  of  myself  and  family.  I  thank  God  that  he 
ever  put  it  in  their  henrts  to  seek  out  this  free  soil.  I  and  my  family  were 
born  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  under  the  appellation  of  free  people;  but 
freedom  we  nrver  know  until,  by  the  benevolence  of  the  Colonization 
Society,  we  were  conveyed  to  "the  shores  of  Africa." 

Mr.  R.  Matthews,  who  arrived  in  Liberia  in  the  year  1832,  said,  "My 
place  of  residence  was  the  city  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  where  1  passed  fora 
freeman.  But  1  can  now  say,  I  was  never  free,  until  I  landed  on  the  shores 
of  Africa." 

Mr.  David  Logan,  said,  "  My  situation  is  greatly  altered  for  the  better, 
by  coming  to  Alrira.  My  object  was  liberty  and  equality  ;  under  a  convic 
tion,  founded  on  experience,  that  the  colored  man  cannot  enjoy  them  in  the 
United  States.  I  have  been  in  this  colony  about  ten  years,  and  when  I  arriv 
ed  here,  was  without  a  dollar ;  yet,  as  poor  as  the  country  is  said  to  be,  I  find 
tbo  industrious  can  make  a  comfortable  living.  My  political  knowledge  a 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  237 


Testimony  of  Mr.  Buchanan. 


courts,  and  was  gratified  to  observe  the  perfect  good  order 
and  decorum  with  which  their  proceedings  were  conducted. 
The  dignity  and  good  sense  of  the  judges,  the  shrewdness 
md  legal  acumen  of  the  counsel,  the  patient  attention  of  the 
jury — all,  of  course,  colored  men."  As  to  the  climate,  Mr. 
Buchanan  says,  "  it  is  entirely  a  mistake  to  suppose  that  it  is 
destructive  of  health."  He  "  went  there  with  his  mind  filled 
with  the  graphic  pictures,  drawn  by  the  prolific  pencil  of  the 
poet,  of  burning  sands,  mephitic  marshes  and  scorching 
winds ;  but  saw  nor  felt  neither."  He  "  was  struck  with  the 
beautiful  luxuriance  of  the  soil.  And  as  to  the  heat,  the  re 
sult  of  the  regular  thermometrical  observations  taken  at  Bassa 
Cove,  was,  that  in  the  hot  season  the  mercury  ranged  between 
eighty  and  eighty-eight  degrees  Fahrenheit,  and  in  the  cold 
or  wet  season,  it  seldom  falls  lower  than  seventy.  There  is 
besides  a  continual  and  refreshing  breeze  from  the  sea,  dur 
ing  the  day,  and  from  the  land  during  the  night."  During 
his  residence  at  Bassa  Cove  "  not  a  single  death  had  occur 
red  in  the  colony,  which  consists  of  about  two  hundred  per 
sons.  Monrovia,  one  of  the  old  settlements,  is  less  favored 

far  superior  to  what  it  would  have  been  had  I  remained  in  America  a  thou 
sand  years." 

Mr.  James  R.  Cheesman  observed,  "  Mr.  Chairman.  I  cannot  on  this  oc 
casion  suppress  my  feelings.  Animated  by  the  past,  and  encouraged  by  the 
bright  prospects  which  lie  before  us,  lei  us  proceed  undauntedly  in  our 
noble  career.  Let  us  appeal  (o  the  pious,  the  liberal,  and  the  wise  :  let  us 
bear  in  mind  the  condition  of  our  fathers.  When  assembled  on  the  shores 
of  America  they  embarked  amid  the  scoffs  and  false  predictions  of  the  as- 
sembled  multitude — and  succeeded,  in  spile  of  all  the  perils  of  the  ocean 
and  dangers  of  the  forest,  in  laying  the  foundation  of  this  infant  republic." 

One  other  resolution  of  the  above  meeting  was,  on  motion  of  the  very  re- 
spectableand  talented  editor  of  the  Hernldi  Mr.  Hilary  Tenge.  also  a  color 
ed  man:  "  Resolved,  That  this  meeting  view  \\ilh  regret  the  degree  to  which 
the  anti-eolouizntionists  of  America  carry  their  opposition.  That  they  re 
gard  the  opposition  of  the  anti-colonizauonists  as  detrimental  to  the  true  in 
terest  of  the  colored  people  generally.  That  their  unmeasured  abuse  of  the 
colonization  scheme  is  unholy  and  unjust  That  the  degree  to  which  they 
uniformly  slander  and  misrepresent  this  colony,  goes  a  great  way  to  dis 
credit  their  profession  of  disinterested  benevolence;  and  we  beseech  them 
by  all  that  we  suffered  in  America — by  all  that  we  have  suffered  here — by 
all  the  bright  prospects  before  us.  and  by  a  regard  to  Iheir  own  character, 
to  scandalize  and  vilify  us  no  more." 


238  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Testimony  of  Mr.  Buchanan. 


in  point  of  healthfulness.  There  are  low  grounds  in  its  vi 
cinity,  which  operate  against  it.  This,  however,  is  the  only 
exception.  The  colonists,  throughout  Liberia,  are  general 
ly  moral  and  temperate,  and  a  large  number  of  them  profess 
ing  Christians.  At  Bassa  Cove  the  introduction  of  ardent 
spirits  is  prohibited.  The  occupations  of  the  people  are 
mechanical,  mercantile,  and  agricultural.  In  the  old  colonies 
many  of  the  citizens  have  become  wealthy.  Such  is  the  re 
spect  with  which  the  native  blacks  regard  the  colonists,  that 
many  of  them  of  high  rank  in  their  tribes  have  considered 
it  a  great  favor  to  be  permitted  to  put  their  sons  in  the  fami 
lies  of  the  '  America  men,'  as  servants,  for  the  purpose  of 
learning  their  language  and  manners.  These  on  their  return 
to  their  homes  act  as  so  many  missionaries  of  civilization — 
rough  and  uncouth,  indeed,  but  sufficiently  improved  to  make 
their  savage  associates  conscious  of  their  own  inferiority,  and 
to  increase  their  respect  for  the  colonists."  : 

'  You  have  intimated  that  there  have  been  some  accounts 
of  a  contrary  character  ?' 

'  There  have  been  some  few  instances  of  dissatisfied  emi 
grants,  who  have  made,  in  some  respects,  a  different  report ; 
but  it  has  been  confidently  believed  that  they  were  prompted 
by  feelings  growing  out  of  the  peculiar  circumstances  in  their 
individual  case.  They  were  certainly  not  of  such  a  charac 
ter  as  to  invalidate  or  discredit  the  testimony  of  the  many 
judicious,  impartial,  and  highly  respectable  persons  who 
have  borne  opposite  testimony.' 

'  I  should  think,  Sir,  from  what  you  have  told  us  of  the 
number  of  the  churches  in  Liberia,  that  the  religious  privi 
leges  of  the  colony  are  great  ?' 

*  Much  is  done  to  promote  the  cause  of  religion  in  the  co 
lony,  and  this  seems  always  to  be  an  object  of  much  solici- 


PLEA  FOR  AFRICA. 


Religious  privileges. 


tude  on  the  part  of  the  Colonization  Society.  The  churches 
in  Liberia  are  generally  well  supplied  with  respectable  and 
faithful  ministers.  In  all  these  churches  there  are  Sunday 
schools  established,  to  which  the  most  promising  young  peo 
ple  in  the  colony  have  attached  themselves  either  as  teachers 
or  as  scholars.  The  Sunday  schools  are  also  furnished  with 
libraries. 

'  I  have  in  the  pamphlet  before  me,  which  was  printed  in 
Monrovia,  the  "  minutes  of  the  first  Convention  of  the  Li 
beria  Baptist  Association,"   by  which  it  appears  that  there 
are  in  the  colony  of  Liberia  six  Baptist  churches,  compris 
ing  about  220  members,  located  in  the  different  settlements. 
These  minutes  represent  the  Baptist  churches  as  in  a  flour 
ishing  condition  ;  and  the   proceedings   of  the  convention 
and  their  circular  to  the  churches,  evince  talent,  judgment, 
and  piety,  of  a  very  respectable  order.     I  will  give  you  one 
extract  from  these  minutes:   "Princes   shall  come   out  of 
Egypt,  Ethiopia  shall  soon  stretch  out  her  hands  unto  God, 
is  the  prediction  of  a  holy  prophet,  uttered  ages  antecedent 
to  the  advent  of  the  Messiah.     And  when  we  reflect  on  the 
midnight  darkness,  which,  from  time  immemorial,  has  shroud 
ed  this  portion  of  Africa,  we  hail  with  rapture,  the  first  dawn 
ing  of  that  glorious  gospel-day   which   is  signified  in  this 
oracle.  *  *  He,  wiih  whom  a  thousand  years  is  as  a  day, 
and  a  day  as   a  thousand   years,   works  his  own  sovereign 
will,  and  effects  his  purposes  of  grace  and  goodness*  in  a 
manner  above  the  comprehension  of  men.     For  ages,  Africa 
has  been  '  meted  out  and  trodden  down.'     Her  deep  moral 
degradation  seems,  by  universal  consent,  to  have  been  justi 
fication  in  regarding  her  as  lawful  plunder,  and  as  a  land  on 
which  a  curse   rests.     But  we  rejoice  that  these  days  are 
going  by.     The  darkness  of  ages   is  yielding  to  the  bright 
rising  of  the  *  Sun  of  righteousness.'     Idolatry  and  supersti 
tion  are  retiring  before  Christianity  and  civilization,  and  on 


240  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


Religious  privileges. 


the  mountain  top,  once  defiled  by  sacrifices  to  devils,  the 
banner  of  the  cross  is  unfurled,  while  a  voice  in  the  wilder 
ness  is  proclaiming :  «  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand,' 
repent  and  believe  the  gospel." 

4 1  have  here  also  the  "  Report  of  the  Liberia  Mission  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal   Church,  and  the  minutes  of  their 
Annual  Conference  in  Liberia  in  1835."     This  document  is 
full  of  interest,  and   displays   the   same   zeal,   energy,  and 
ability  which  you  find  generally  among  the  colonists.     Of 
the  conference,  the  report  says,  "The  greatest  harmony  and 
peace    prevailed    during  our  session,  and  it  is  confidently 
hoped  that  this  little  bnnd  of  ambassadors  for  Christ  have 
gone  to  their  respective  appointments  with  increasing  zeal  in 
the  cause  of  their  Divine  Master,  and  holy  resolutions  to 
spend  and  be  spent  in  the   blessed   work  of  winning  souls 
for  God.  *  *  Our  love-feast  and  sacramental  occasions  were 
attended   by  manifestations  of  the   Holy  Spirit  of  God,  in 
the  quickening  of  his  children,  the  conviction   and  conver 
sion   of  souls,  and  the  spread  of  divine  trulh.     The   altar 
was  thronged   on   the   last  evening  wilh  weeping,  broken 
hearted  seekers  of  Christ  and  his  great  salvation.     Having 
been  very  affectionately  requested  by  our  brethren  of  both 
Baptist   churches    to   occupy   their  pulpits  throughout  the 
meeting,  and   especially  on  the  Sabbath,  we  appointed  la 
borers  accordingly  ;  so  that  the  word  of  life  was  dispensed 
nine  times  on  Sunday  in  the  town  of  Monrovia  by  preachers 
of  the  Methodist  conference.     May  he   who  givelh  the  in 
crease,  water  the  good  seed  from  on  high,  that  it  may  bring 
forth  abundantly  to  his  eternal  glory."     It  would  seem  by 
the  minutes  that  the  number  of  ministers  of  this  denomina 
tion  in  the  colony,  was,  at  the  beginning  of  1835,  twelve; 
and  the  number  of  communicants  upwards  of  200.     The 
report  also  speaks  of  the  appointment  of  a  missionary  "  for 
the   interior  of  Africa,   to  carry  the  light  of  the  gospel  of 


PLEA  FOR  AFRICA.  241 


Religious  privileges. 


Jesus  Christ  into  the  dark  regions  of  this  benighted  land." 
The  appointment,  it  is  said,  seems  to  be  regarded  by  the 
members  of  the  conference  with  the  warmest  approbation, 
and  one  good  result  already  discovered  from  it  is  the  awaken 
ing  a  missionary  spirit  among  the  preachers.  Several  are 
ready  to  say,  "  Here  are  we,  send  us.  We  covet  the  pri 
vilege  of  carrying  the  gospel  to  the  heathen  tribes."  The 
Report  concludes,  "  If  we  are  to  judge  from  the  appearance 
of  the  fields  around  us,  which  are  already  *  white  unto 
harvest,'  we  should -conclude  that « the  set  time  to  favor  Zion 
has  come,'  yea,  that  *  now  is  the  accepted  time,  now  is  the 
day  of  salvation.'  Men  and  brethren,  help  !  O  help  to  dis 
enthral  poor  bleeding  Africa  from  the  hellish  grasp  of  the 
enemy  of  all  righteousness  !  Help  to  promote  the  moral 
and  religious  prosperity  of  this  infant  colony,  destined  as  it 
is  to  be  rendered  the  savor  of  life  unto  life  to  this  benighted 
continent !" 

*  In  a  number  of  the  Liberia  Herald,  which  is  now  before 
me,  dated  February  28,  1836,  I  find  pleasing  evidence  of 
the  advancement  of  the  colony  in  all  that  is  good,  and  of 
the  rich  blessings  which  God  designs  to  pour  through  it 
upon  a  benighted  continent,  in  the  fact  that  a  number  of  na 
tives  who  had  been  brought  under  the  influence  of  the  gos 
pel,  and  had  been  for  some  time  communicants  in  one  of  the 
Baptist  churches,  have  been  dismissed  from  that  particular 
church  to  form  a  new  one  in  a  situation  more  advantageous 
to  their  extended  usefulness.  I  will  give  you  the  article 
announcing  this  event,  as  I  find  it  in  the  Monrovia  paper  ; 
"  On  Sunday,  the  7th  inst.,  thirty-six  native  Africans,  resi 
dent  at  New  Georgia,  late  members  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church  in  this  place,  having  been  dismissed  by  letters,  were 
brought  into  visibility  as  a  church,  in  the  place  of  their  re 
sidence.  Sermon  by  Rev.  Dr.  Skinner,  charge  and  right 
hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev.  H.  Teage,  and  concluding 


242  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 

Religious  privileges. 

prayer  by  Rev.  A.  W.  Anderson.  The  exercises  of  the  oc 
casion  were  truly  solemnly  pleasing  and  impressive.  They 
naturally  threw  the  mind  back  to  the  period  when  they  who 
were  thus  solemnly  dedicating  themselves  to  God,  to  be 
constituted  into  a  *  golden  candlestick'  from  which  the  divine 
light  is  to  chase  the  surrounding  gloom,  were  in  the  dark 
ness  of  nature,  without  God,  without  revelation,  and  con 
sequently  without  the  hope  it  inspires.  These  reflections 
seemed  to  produce  a  reaction  of  the  mind,  and  threw  it  on 
an  immoveable  foundation,  the  promise  that  *  Ethiopia  shall 
soon  stretch  forth  her  hands  unto  God.'  On  this  circum 
stance,  the  mind  seemed  invited  to  repose,  as  an  earnest  of 
the  full  completion  of  the  promise,  and  earnestly  to  ejaculate, 
*  Lord,  let  thy  kingdom  come.' ' 

*  I  must  give  you  one  more  extract  from  the  same  paper. 
It  is  a  communication  from  a  correspondent  of  the  Herald, 
in  Monrovia,  and  relates  to  the  dedication  of  a  Presbyterian 
church :  "  Mr.  Editor,  as  every  circumstance  which  has  any 
relation  to  the  spreading  of  our  blessed  religion  in  Africa, 
must  have  a  tendency  to  give  satisfaction  to  every  lover  and 
follower  of  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ,  you  will  confer  a 
favor  on  one  of  your  constant  readers  by  giving  publication 
to  this.  Having  understood  that  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  was  to  be  dedicated  to  the  service  of  God  on  the 
26th  November,  I  attended,  and  was  happy  to  find  the  prin 
cipal  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  present  on  so  inte 
resting  an  occasion.  Every  denomination  of  saints  seemed 
to  rejoice  that  another  temple  had  been  erected  and  dedicated 
to  the  worship  of  Almighty  God.  It  was  enough  that  the 
pure  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  was  to  be  inculcated  from  that 
sacred  pulpit,  and,  as  that  servant  of  God,  the  Rev.  C. 
Teage,  remarked,  that  where  he  then  stood  preaching  the 
dedication  sermon,  sixteen  years  past,  the  devil's  bush  stood. 
What  skeptic  could  doubt  that  colonization  and  missionary 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  243 


Religions  privileges. 


enterprise  had  done  much  good  ?  The  service  commenced 
at  11  o'clock,  A.  M.,  by  singing  a  hymn  selected  for  the 
occasion,  and  reading  the  8th  chapter  of  the  2d  book  of 
Kings,  by  the  Pastor,  Rev.  James  Eden ;  sermon  by  Rev. 
C.  Teage ;  concluding  prayer  by  Rev.  A.  D.  Williams,  of 
the  M.  E.  Church.  How  truly  animating  it  is  to  see  tem 
ples  arise  for  the  worship  of  God,  where  not  long  since 
there  was  nothing  to  be  heard  but  the  savage  yell  of  the 
native,  or  the  clinking  of  the  poor  slaves'  chains.  On  Sun 
day  the  27th  December,  Mr.  H.  B.  Matthews  was  ordained 
a  ruling  elder  of  the  church,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson  of  Cape 
Palmas." ' 

'  I  do  not  see,  Pa,  why  the  Colonization  Society  and  the 
interests  of  the  colony  should  be  so  virulently  opposed  as 
they  are  by  many  ?' 

*  It  is  strange  that  it  is  opposed  by  so  many  from  whom 
we  might  have  expected  better  things  ;  and  especially  since 
something,  it  is   admitted  by  all,  must  be  done,  and  since 
no  better  scheme  has  yet  been  devised.' 

'  Should  not  the  mighty  scheme  of  colonization  be 
realized  in  all  its  parts  and  to  its  utmost  extent,'  said  Caro 
line,  '  blessings  will  nevertheless  be  attained,  it  seems  to 
me,  which  will  abundantly  repay  every  effort  and  sacrifice 
made.' 

*  Great  good  has  already  been  done,  and  far  more  than 
proportionate  to  the  efforts  made.     The  germ  of  an  Ameri 
cano-African  empire  has  been   planted ;  and  even  if  coloni 
zation  should  for  ever   cease,   that  colony  will  extend  and 
extend,  I  doubt  not,  until  its  influence  shall  overshadow  the 
continent.     The  plan  will  .succeed.     Heaven's  blessing  will 
attend  it.    Glorious  things  are  in  store  for  Africa.    That  con 
tinent  has  a  rich  blessing  in  the  Liberia  colony.' 


244  PLEA   FOR  AFRICA. 


Young  Men's  Colonization  Society  of  Pennsylvania. 

*  It  appears  to  me,  Pa,  that  the  object  is  one  of  the  most 
noble  philanthropy  ;  we  have  read  of  the  philanthropic  spirit 
of  a  Howard,  and  have  admired :  but  here  is  a  philanthropy 
that  seeks  to  disenthral  and  elevate  two  millions  of  outcasts 
who  are  now  among  ourselves,  and  to  establish  the  liberties 
and  secure  the  best  good  of  a  continent.' 

'  And  that  continent,  Caroline,  is  estimated  as  containing 
fifty  millions  of  immortal  souls !  some  say,  two  hundred 
millions  /' 

*  Truly  a  noble  cause  !' 

1  A  noble  cause,  indeed  ;  and  we  may  all,  if  we  will,  enjoy 
the  honor  of  engaging  in  its  interests,  and  of  helping  forward 
this  blessed  enterprise.  In  our  next  conversation  I  shall  call 
your  attention  to  some  further  progress  in  the  great  and  good 
work,  as  exhibited  in  the  more  recent  establishment  of  the 
sub-colony  at  Bassa  Cove.* 


CONVERSATION   XXV. 


"  Non  enim  est  ulla  res  in  qua  proprius  ad  Deorum  numen  virtus  accedat 
humana,  quam  civitates  aut  condere  novas,  aut  conservare  jam  conditas." 

Cicero. 

1  IN  our  last  conversation,  I  promised  you  some  account  of 
another  enterprise  in  connexion  with  the  colony  at  Liberia, 
by  which  the  colonization  cause  has  been  greatly  advanced. 
This  enterprise  is  the  result  of  the  efforts  of  the  Young 
Men's  Colonization  Society  of  Pennsylvania.  Of  the  origin 
of  this  Society  and  its  success,  I  must  give  you  a  brief 
history. 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  245 


First  expedition. — Interesting  coincidence?. 


*  This  Society,  organized  May,  1834,  acting  as  auxiliary 
to  the  American  Colonization  Society,  was  formed  with  the 
design  of  pursuing  strictly  a  system  of  political  economy 
which  shall  foster  with  special  care  the  agricultural  interests 
of  the  colony  by  them  established^  checking  the  influence  of 
petty  and  itinerant  traffickers  which  has  been  found  detri 
mental  in  the  other  colonies,  excluding  from  the  colony  the 
use  of  ardent  spirits,  and  withholding  the  common  tempta 
tions  and  means  for  any  aggressions  upon  the  native  popula 
tion  of  Africa.  The  great  principles  upon  which  the  So 
ciety  professes  to  act,  are  thus  expressed  by  their  philan 
thropic  and  distinguished  Secretary  of  foreign  correspon 
dence,  E.  Cresson,  to  whose  warmhearted  and  untiring  ef 
forts  in  this  cause,  much  is  to  be  attributed :  "1.  Entire 
temperance  in  every  colonist :  2.  Total  abstinence  from  trade 
in  ardent  spirits  and  arts  of  war :  3.  An  immediate  Chris 
tian  influence  and  operation  upon  surrounding  heathen  :  All 
designed  to  accomplish  the  second  article  of  (its)  constitu 
tion,  ''to  provide  for  civilizing  and  christianizing  Africa, 
through  the  direct  instrumentality  of  colored  emigrants  from 
the  United  States.'  '  This  Society  commenced  under  very 
favorable  auspices,  and  their  first  expedition  sailed  from  Nor 
folk,  Va.,  October  24th  of  the  same  year ;  the  very  day  of 
the  one  hundred  and  fifty-second  anniversary  of  the  arrival 
of  Perm,  with  the  first  English  settlers,  on  the  shores  of  the 
Delaware.' 

'  This,'  said  Caroline,  'was  a  very  happy  coincidence.' 

'  It  was,'  Mr.  L.  continued,  '  and  there  is  yet  another — the 
good  ship  Ninus,  in  which  this  expedition  embarked,  sailed 
from  Philadelphia  to  receive  the  emigrants  at  Norfolk,  the 
14th  of  October,  which  was  on  William  Penn's  one  hundred 
and  ninetieth  birth  day.  All  this  was  apparently  entirely  ac- 
u2 


246  PLEA   FOR  AFRICA. 


Great  success  and  encouragement. 


cidental,  and  was  regarded  not  only  as  somewhat  remarkable 
but  as  a  favorable  omen. 

4  The  outfit  of  the  Ninus  cost  about  eight  thousand  dol 
lars,  and  the  number  of  emigrants  was  one  hundred  and 
twenty-six.  Every  adult  previous  to  the  sailing  of  the  ship, 
was  a  subscriber  to  the  temperance  pledge  of  entire  absti 
nence  from  the  use  of  ardent  spirits.  They  all  arrived  safe 
at  Liberia  on  the  9th  December  following,  and  immediately 
proceeded  to  Bassa  Cove,  their  contemplated  territory,  the 
purchase  of  which  from  the  natives  had  been  consummated 
a  few  days  previous  to  their  arrival.  Such  was  the  zeal  and 
energy  of  these  colonists,  that  by  the  first  day  of  January 
next  succeeding,  a  plot  of  ground  had  been  cleared  and  a 
house  erected  for  the  agency  family,  and  within  six  months 
the  whole  colony  were  comfortably  located,  eighteen  houses 
having  been  erected  by  them  for  their  own  accommodation  ; 
"  the  lots  around  them  presenting  a  bright  prospect  of  luxu 
riant  crops  of  various  kinds;"  and  ten  additional  houses  to 
receive  the  emigrants  expected  by  a  second  expedition.  Be 
sides  these,  the  agent  had  caused  to  be  "prepared  a  large  and 
substantial  Government-house,  20  feet  by  50,  and  two  stories 
high,  with  a  well  stocked  garden  of  two  acres,  substantially 
enclosed,  and  had  cleared  upwards  of  forty  acres  of  land  ; 
he  had  also  a  smith-shop,  with  a  pit  of  coal,  nearly  ready 
for  operation  ;  a  kiln  of  lime  burned,  and  six  head  of  cattle 
procured  and  partially  broken  to  the  yoke."  And  "  what 
rendered  this  picture  more  peculiarly  pleasing,  is  the  fact 
that  this  was  achieved  on  the  very  spot  where  a  slave  facto 
ry  had  long  stood,  and  from  whence  no  less  than  500  vic 
tims  had  been  shipped  during  the  one  month  preceding- 
(the)  pur  chase."  An  extensive  and  kindly  intercourse  was 
opened  with  the  surrounding  tribes ;  and  promises  obtained 
even  from  the  more  distant,  of  the  extirpation  of  the  traffic 
in  human  flesh  and  blood.  The  location  "  was  admirably 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  247 


No  apprehension  for  the  future. 


adapted,  just  beyond  the  territorial  limits  of  the  American 
Colonization  Society,  and  commanding  at  the  same  time, 
the  mouth  of  the  St.  John's  River,  and  the  only  harbor 
occurring  for  many  miles  round,  to  repress  that  nefarious 
traffic  along  a  considerable  portion  of  coast." 

*  This  colony,  so  favorably   commenced,   was,  however, 
destined  to  meet  with  a  sudden  and  very  grievous  discourage 
ment  and  suspension.     A  slaver  arriving  in  the  vicinity,  ope 
rated  upon  the  cupidity  of  one  of  the  chieftains  in  the  neigh 
borhood,  and  by  the  guilty  use  of  ardent  spirits,  urged  him 
to  an  attack  upon  the  unsuspecting   colony.     Three  men, 
four  women,  and  thirteen  children,  were  massacred  in  one 
night,  and  the  remainder  were  obliged  to  take  refuge  at  Mon 
rovia.' 

1  Might  not  this  dreadful  catastrophe  have  been  avoided, 
if  the  colony  had  been  prepared  with  fire-arms  and  other 
instruments  of  defence?' 

*  It  probably  might.     It  is  now  confidently  believed  by 
those  who  have  knowledge  of  the  character  of  the  surround 
ing  tribes,  that  the  very  fact  of  the  colonists  being  possessed 
of  the   means  of  defence,  will  operate,  in  accordance  with 
the  spirit  and  language  of  the  constitution  of  the  Society,  as 
"  a  dissuasion  from  warfare,"  and  induce  them  to  reject  any 
future  overtures   of  the   slavers.     It  is    not  to  be  expected 
that  the  slavers  will  regard  any  attempts  to  plant  colonies  on 
the  coast,  with  other  feeling  than   hostility  ;  for  the   slave- 
trade  cannot  long  survive  amid  the  salutary  influences    of 
civilized  and  Christian  colonies  on  the  surrounding  pagan 
darkness.     The  chief,  however,  who  was  engaged  in  the  at 
tack  upon  the  colony,  has  expressed  contrition  for  his  con 
duct,  and  given  solemn   assurances  of  a  desire  for  peace ; 
and  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  colony,  which  is  now 
amply  furnished  with  the  means  of  defence,  but  instructed  to 


248  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Prosperity  of  the  colony. 


carry  out  the  original  design  of  the  enterprise  by  prosecut-* 
ing  the  humane  and  benevolent  purposes  originally  contem 
plated,  "  in  a  spirit  of  affectionate  regard  for  the  best  inter 
est  of  the  natives,"  using  "  every  effort  for  the  preservation 
of  the  most  friendly  relations  with  them,"  will  not  be  again 
molested ;  or,  if  they  should  be,  it  is  believed  that  they  have 
nothing  to  fear.     The  slavers  must  retire  before  the  light  of 
civilization,  and  the  influence  of  agriculture  and  commerce. 
4  Several  expeditions  for  this  colony  have  been  despatched 
since  that  which  we  have  noticed,  by  the  joint  benevolence 
of  the  New-York  Colonization  Society  and  the  Pennsylva 
nia  Society  ;  the  energies  of  both  institutions,  by  an  arrange 
ment  to  that  effect,  having  been  devoted  to  the  colony  at  Bas- 
sa   Cove.     Among  the  emigrants  are  a  goodly  number  of 
superior  education  and  intelligence,   as  well  as  some  who 
are  possessed  of  considerable  property.     Clergymen  are  as 
sociated  with  the  colony  as  missionaries  from  the  Episcopal, 
Methodist,  Baptist,   and  Presbyterian  churches,   and  great 
efforts  are    made    to  extend   among  the   natives  the  united 
blessings  of  literary  and  religious  instruction.     The  princi 
ple  of  "  entire  abstinence"  from  ardent  spirits,  I  have  men 
tioned  was  adopted  by  the  Pennsylvania  Society  at  its  for 
mation.     All   the  reinforcements   to   the  colony,  it  is  said, 
44  sailed  without  a  drop  of  ardent  spirits,"  and  the  "  colonists 
pledged   to  total  abstinence  have   not  in  any    instance  been 
known  to  violate"  the  pledge.     It  may  be  proper  also  to  re 
mark   that  the  influence  of  this  temperance  movement  has 
been  happy  upon  the  old  colony.     Hundreds  have  signed  the 
pledge,  and  so  temperate  is  the  colony  that  Captain  Abies, 
on  a  recent  visit,  ascertained  that  "  no  spirit  was  sold  at  any 
house  of  entertainment  at  Monrovia."     The  colony  atBassa 
Cove  appears,  at  the  present  time,  to  be  prospering  greatly.' 

4 1  notice,5  said  Henry,   4  that    a  collegiate  institution  in 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


249 


College  in  Liberia. 


Africa,  is  proposed,  and  about  to  be  established  by  THE 
AMERICAN  SOCIETY  (of  New-York)  FOR  THE  PROMOTION  OF 
EDUCATION  IN  AFRICA.* 

*  Yes,'  said  Mr.  L. ;  *  this  Society  is  the  same  to  which 
reference  has  before  been  made  under  the  name   of  '•'  the 
Young    Men's  Colonization  Society  of  New  York,"  the 
name  of  the   Society  having  been  changed.     The  reasons 
which  have  been  assigned  for  this  change  are,  that  the  former 
name  "did  not  fully  express  the  principal  object  in  view  by 
its  founders,"  and  that  it  "  tended  to  identify  (the  Society) 
with  one  of  the  two  great  parties  who  have  made  the  color 
ed  race  the  object  of  their  sympathies  and  charitable  exer 
tions,  but  who  differ  widely  from  each  other  as  to  the  man 
ner  in  which  their  exertions  should  be  directed." 

*  This  Society  professes   an  intention  to  be  separate  from 
each,  and  yet,  by  a  plan  of  benevolent  operation  accomplish 
objects  which  cannot  but  be  gratifying  to  all  sincere  friends 
of  the  colored  race.     Its  design  is   to  educate  the  colored 
man  in  Africa,  whether  he  come  there  through  the  immedi 
ate  efforts  of  the  abolitionists,  or  the  gradual  influence  of  co 
lonization,  or  is  found  there  a  native  of  the  soil ;  to  prepare 
him  for  that  freedom  which  he  can  there,  and   there  only, 
enjoy  without  alloy,  but  which,  without  mental  and  moral 
culture,  would  prove  far  worse  than  slavery  itself.     The  So 
ciety  hopes  to  "  have  a  bearing  on  the  interests  of  the  color 
ed  race  in  our  own  country  by  the  reflux   influence  of  the 
moral   elevation  of  Africa  itself."     The  establishment  of  a 
College  in  Liberia  has  long  been  a  favorite  idea  with  many 
prominent  friends  of  the  African  race.     Believing  that  know 
ledge  is  power  ;  and  that  self-preservation  even,  whether  of 
the  individual  or  a  people,  is  not  secure  by  physical  force 
alone ;  they  have  looked  forward  to  the  location  of  such  an 
institution  in  Western  Africa,  as  an  object  of  great  interest. 
As  intelligence  creates  resources,  opens  channels  of  wealth, 


250  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


College  in  Liberia. 


extends  commerce,  improves  the  arts,  establishes  manufac 
tures,  gives  permanence  and  honor  to  a  community,  and 
when  founded  in  moral  principle,  raises  the  standard  of  hu 
man  character,  securing  domestic  virtue  and  national  pros 
perity  ;  so  it  also  throws  a  shield  of  protection  around 
liberty,  life,  and  property.  The  colored  race  cannot  be  effec 
tually  disenthralled  from  their  present  degradation,  except 
as  they  enjoy  the  blessings  of  a  good  education.  Great  pains 
have  been  taken  for  the  establishment  of  primary  or  com 
mon  schools  in  the  colonies,  and  for  extending  the  benefits 
of  elementary  instruction  to  all  classes  of  the  children.  The 
American  Society  for  the  promotion  of  Education  in  Africa, 
proposes  to  extend  these  principles  still  further,  having  spe 
cial  reference  in  its  operations  to  the  benighted  tribes  scat 
tered  over  the  continent.*  A  college  is  needed  to  give 
efficacy  to  all  these  institutions,  and  to  follow  up  to  its  full 
blessing  the  good  work  nobly  begun,  t 

*  From  a  circular  issued  by  this  Society  it  appears  that  the  objecl  is 
"to  extend  the  blessings  of  Christian  Education  to  the  benighted  millions 
of  Africa  ;"  but  it  supposes  that  "  education  (bra  people  ignorant  and  de 
graded  like  those  it  would  benefit  must  for  some  time  be  confined  to  its 
elementary  stages.  It  is  therefore  proposed  to  commence  with  several 
branches  of  useful  knowledge  that  are  most  needed,  and  to  establish  a  de 
partment.  1,  For  Agriculture.  2,  For  Mechanics.  3,  For  Grammar,  Geo 
graphy,  and  Arithmetic.  4,  For  Commerce  and  Navigation;  and  over  these 
departments  to  place  practical  and  well  qualified  professors.  Associated 
with  this  part  of  the  scheme,  will  be  common  and  Sunday  schools.  As  the 
enterprise  advances,  and  the  condition  of  the  people  justifies  it,  the  higher 
branches  of  education  will  be  introduced.  It  will  be  an  object  of  early 
solicitude  and  constant  care  to  qualify  teachers  of  common  schools  from 
among  the  native  population  of  Africa." 

tit  is  a  fact  for  which  credit  should  be  given,  that  beside  a  desire  mani 
fested  from  the  beginning  by  the  American  Colonization  Society,  to  encou 
rage  education  in  the  colonies,  ladies  of  Philadelphia  formed  a  "  Liberia 
School  Association,"  in  1832,  which  contributed  largely  by  pecuniary  aid 
and  good  influence  to  the  great  object ;  and,  in  1834,  an  association  was  form 
ed,  denominated  "  The  Female  Society  of  the  city  of  ISevv-Vork,  for  the 
support  of  schools  in  Africa,"  the  object  of  which  is  "  to  prepare  and  sup 
port  Christian  teachers  in  Africa."  The  first  is  still  prosecuting  its  good 
work  as  auxiliary  to  the  Colonization  Society;  the  last  named  is  still  operat 
ing  efficiently  in  conjunction  with  the  recently  formed  American  Society  for 
the  Promotion  of  Education  in  Africa,  through  the  agency  of  the  REV.  BKNJ, 
M-  PALMER,  D.  D.  a  gentleman  well  known  for  his  sound  judgment,  piety 
and  talents,  and  late  Pastor  of  one  of  the  churches  in  Charleston,  S.  C, 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  251 


College  in  Liberia. 


*  A  philanthropic  and  judicious  writer  in  the  New-York 
Observer  has  these  very  sensible  remarks  in  respect  to  the 
location  of  such  an  institution  in  Liberia  : — "  Great  changes 
are  in  progress.  It  requires  no  prophetic  vision  to  perceive 
that  the  destinies  of  the  African  race  are  opening  and  bright 
ening.  The  elevation  of  many  individuals  is  not  to  be  pre 
vented  by  slander  or  unkind  treatment.  There  are  among 
them  some  of  nature's  noblemen  in  intellectual  power,  no 
less  than  in  physical  structure.  Their  redemption  from  ig 
norance  and  abjectness  at  home,  and  the  melioration  of  their 
state  in  foreign  exile,  hasten  on  with  rapid  stride.  The  ge 
nius  of  the  age,  and  the  intimations  of  the  divine  will,  point 
to  such  results.  Selfish  interests  and  personal  prejudices 
die  with  men,  while  time  rolls  on  its  tide  without  our  aid  or 
consent.  Some  of  these  changes  will  be  accelerated,  not  re 
tarded,  by  the  rod  of  oppression.  New-England  was  filled 
with  emigrants  by  ecclesiastical  tyranny.  Men  of  cultivated 
intellect  and  various  talent  will  be  wanted  among  the  people 
of  color,  as  soon  as  they  can  be  educated.  They  are  to  oc 
cupy  responsible  stations,  and  to  do  a  momentous  work. 
They  are  to  prosecute  researches  into  the  geography  and 
commercial  resources  of  Africa,  to  establish  a  republic  on  its 
western  coast,  and  to  publish  the  gospel  of  the  Saviour  to 
its  superstitious  tribes.  It  is  contrary  to  all  analogy  to  sup 
pose  otherwise.  White  men  may  make  establishments, 
commercial  and  religious,  on  the  capes  and  islands  of  that 
continent,  but  it  is  for  men  of  color  to  pass  up  its  rivers,  to 
cultivate  its  vallies,  and  introduce  the  arts  and  institutions  of 
a  Christian  land  through  its  wide  extent  of  surface.  It  is 
for  men  of  color  to  found  schools  and  churches,  pursue  its 
agriculture  and  commerce,  and  conduct  the  whole  machinery, 
on  which  depends  the  wealth,  prosperity,  and  elevated  cha 
racter  of  this  infant  republic. 

* "  There  is  a  strong  sympathy  with  the  African  race.    It 


252  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Such  an  institution  needed. 


can  hardly  be  restrained  by  sober  judgment  and  a  regard  to 
the  principles  of  common  justice.  It  seeks  to  find  out  chan 
nels  in  which  its  exuberant  compassion  may  flow  forth* 
That  race,  in  the  mystery  of  Providence,  has  been  subjected 
to  much  suffering.  To  say  that  many  have  endured  a  long 
bondage,  a  period  of  exile  from  the  land  of  their  fathers,  like 
the  slavery  of  Jacob's  family  in  Egypt,  or  the  captivity  of 
Judah  in  Assyria,  is  only  a  declaration  of  historical  facts. 
And  this  injury  has  been  inflicted  by  the  most  intelligent 
and  Christian  nations  on  the  globe.  That  a  rich  return  is  to 
be  made  to  their  descendants  in  the  arts  of  civilized  life,  and 
in  the  inestimable  blessings  of  the  Christian  religion,  cannot 
well  admit  a  doubt.  *  *  If  we  stop  with  the  rudiments 
of  knowledge,  we  only  begin  the  work.  The  paths  of 
science  are  not  trod,  the  powers  of  the  intellect  are  not  de 
veloped,  the  dignity  of  our  nature  is  not  fully  displayed.  No 
historian  records  a  nation's  annals,  and  no  poet  writes  iU 
songs  ;  no  astronomer  marks  the  phenomena  of  the  heavens, 
and  no  geologist  digs  into  the  treasures  of  the  earth.  With 
out  a  college,  there  are  no  profound  scholars,  no  elegant 
writers,  no  large  libraries,  no  inquiries  into  the  antiquities  of 
past  ages,  or  into  the  aspects  of  future  times.  Soon  will  the 
common  school  lower  its  standard,  if  there  is  no  higher  in 
stitution.  Soon  will  the  general  intelligence  of  a  people  de 
cline,  if  there  are  no  learned  men,  with  whom  they  are  con 
versant  and  to  whom  they  may  look  as  examples.  Soon 
will  the  authority  of  the  Bible  be  veiled  in  doubts,  if  there 
are  none  who  are  competent  to  read  its  ancient  languages, 
demonstrate  its  divine  origin,  and  answer  the  cavils  of  infi 
dels.  There  is  no  security  against  a  retrograde  movement 
in  any  human  society  but  in  a  constant  effort  to  advance. 

*  "  Who  are  to  navigate  their  ships  ?  Who  are  to  teach 
their  children  ?  Who  are  to  be  the  pastors  of  their  churches  ? 
Who  are  to  be  their  legislators,  governors,  judges  ?  Who 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  253 


College  in  Liberia  necessary. 


are  to  lay  the  sure  foundations  of  an  intelligent,  virtuous,  and 
happy  republic  ?  Who  are  to  extend  a  civilizing  influence 
over  hundreds  of  petty  tribes  along  a  coast  of  three  thousand 
miles  and  into  regions  of  the  interior,  as  yet  untraversed  by 
Europeans  ?  It  sickens  the  heart  to  hear  it  suggested  that 
the  ignorant  and  vicious  are  to  be  entrusted  with  these  stu 
pendous  interests,  which  involve  the  dearest  hopes  of  many 
generations,  and  on  which  depends  the  successful  prosecu 
tion  of  one  of  the  noblest  enterprises  which  has  ever  blest 
humanity  in  this  or  any  other  age.  It  sickens  the  heart  to 
think  that  its  government  may  degenerate  into  anarchy,  and 
its  religion  into  fanaticism, — that  its  energies  may  be  ex 
hausted  in  selfish  and  mercenary  speculations,  until  the 
slave-trade  shall  be  renewed  where  it  is  now  extinct,  and  the 
arts  of  war  supplant  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  agriculture  and 
the  manufactures.  It  sickens  the  heart  to  think  that  many 
lives  may  have  been  sacrificed  and  much  treasure  expended 
to  little  purpose,  that  tears  have  been  shed  and  prayers  offer 
ed  in  vain.  The  failure  of  Liberia,  as  the  germ  of  a  free  and 
prosperous  republic,  is  not  to  be  contemplated  as  possible. 
But  there  are  various  means  to  be  employed  to  render  the 
enterprise  more  sure.  Among  others,  a  liberal  system  of 
education  is  one,  which  requires  a  college  as  an  indispensa 
ble  appendage." 

«  Amongst  the  reasons  which  this  writer  assigns  for  the  lo 
cation  of  such  an  institution  in  Liberia,  are  these : — "  It  will 
be  in  the  land  of  the  African  race.  That  land  is  a  continent 
wide  in  territory,  rich  in  resources,  and  open  to  the  entrance 
of  her  own  children.  If  three  or  four  millions  of  that  race 
are  dispersed  in  foreign  lands,  twenty  or  thirty  millions  are 
to  be  found  on  their  native  soil.*  Some  thousands  of  free 
men,  who  are  advancing  to  wealth  and  high  distinction,  have 


*  Some  suppose  200,000,000. 

X 


254  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Without  knowledge,  a  colony  will  degenerate. 


made  it  their  home.  The  native  population  is  easily  acces 
sible.*  It  places  the  pupils  beyond  the  reach  of  that  oppres 
sive  power  which  they  feel  in  this  country,  and  they  are  left 
to  the  influence  of  all  the  high  and  inspiring  motives  of  am 
bition,  honor,  and  usefulness.  In  these  States,  in  the  vici 
nity  of  their  enslaved  brethren,  they  are  dispirited.  They 
do  not  find  themselves  stimulated  by  the  prospect  of  emolu 
ment,  or  office,  or  equal  rank.  Why  should  they  study? 

*  In  reference  to  the  opportunities  and  desire  for  instruction  among  the 
natives,  which  is  indeed  truly  remarkable,  Mr.  Pinney,  who  went  from 
Georgia,  as  a  missionary,  under  the  Western  Board  of  Foreign  missions,  re 
ports,  "  Many  of  the  children  of  the  natives  have  seen  what  they  call '  Ame 
rica  man  fash,'  (fashion,)  and  through  their  report,  and  from  their  own  ob 
servation,  the  natives  in  the  vicinity  of  our  settlements  are  informed  as  to 
the  superiority  of  our  knowledge,  and  desire  to  partake  of  the  benefit.  This 
desire  exists,  I  will  venture  to  say,  at  this  hour  in  more  than  100,000  of  the 
natives  in  the  neighborhood  of  our  colonies.  Most  of  the  young  men,  sons 
of  chiefs  or  headmen,  act  as  servants,  to  bring  wood  and  water,  and  go  on 
errands,  and  perform  all  sorts  of  servile  offices,  for  the  sake  of  obtaining  a 
smattering  of  the  English  tongue.  It  is  the  leading  youth  of  the  country, 
such  as  in  their  own  tribe  are  considered  as  gentlemen  and  princes,  who  are 
in  a  particular  manner  anxious  to  learn  our  language,  and  adopt  our  customs. 
Who  does  not  see,  in  this  important  fact,  the  germ  of  Africa's  future  improve 
ment  ?" 

In  respect  to  another  portion  of  the  same  continent,  the  Rev.  J.  L.  Wilson, 
a  missionary  from  South  Carolina,  in  the  employ  of  the  American  Board, 
says,  in  conjunction  with  his  companion,  Mr.  Wynkoop,  "  along  the  whole 
coast  where  we  have  been,  we  uniformly  found  the  people  desirous  of 
schools,  and  from  what  we  have  seen  ourselves  and  heard  from  others,  we 
are  induced  to  believe  there  is  not  a  town  on  the  coast  where  a  Christian 
teacher  would  not  be  heartily  welcomed.  We  would  confidently  say,  that 
there  is  a  universal  desire,  nay,  an  imperious  demand  for  Christian  schools. 
Wherever  it  was  made  known"  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  towns  on  the  south 
ern  coast,  that  we  were  going  to  Cape  Palmas  for  the  purpose  of  teaching 
the  natives,  we  received  applications  to  send  American  teachers  to  their 
towns.  JNot  (infrequently  they  asked  a  written  promise  to  this  effect."  At 
Rocktown  they  gave  the  king  and  his  head  men  a  written  promise  that  a 
teacher  should  be  sent  them  if  possible.  Yet,  they  say,  "  after  we  were  dis 
tant  290  miles  on  our  way  home,  we  received  a  message  from  them,  remind 
ing  us  of  our  promise.  This  desire  for  schools  has  doubtless  grown  out  of  an 
acquaintance  with  civilized  nations.  From  the  example  of  a  few  natives 
whoin  we  have  seen  pursuing  their  educations  and  the  earnestness  and  fa 
cility  with  which  they  learn — we  cannot  think  (hat  any  judicious  efforts  to 
meet  their  desires  in  this  respect  will  be  fruitless." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Philip,  of  South  Africa,  furnishes  testimony  to  the  same 
effect  representing  that  portion  of  the  continent,  and,  what  is  amusing,  re 
lates  that  "one  chief  among  the  Caffre  tribes  of  South  Africa,  proposed  to 
purchase  a  missionary — and  was  willing  to  give  one  thousand  head  of  cattle 
for  u  teacher  to  come  and  live  with  him  and  instruct  his  people." 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


A  College  in  Liberia  promises  rich  blessings. 


Why  aspire  to  learn  ?  What  is  the  reward  of  diligence  ? 
Besides  they  do  not  often  enjoy  the  facilities  of  instruction 
and  books,  which  fall  to  the  lot  of  other  children,  especially 
in  early  years.  It  is  not  chiefly  any  want  of  industry  or 
native  talent,  which  leaves  them  behind  others  of  their  age. 
This  disparity  can  be  satisfactorily  traced  to  causes  which 
cannot  be  removed  till  they  are  taken  out  of  this  state  of  so 
ciety  and  allowed  to  inhale  a  free  atmosphere.  See  the  Afri 
can  youth  on  his  native  soil,  erect,  gay,  and  buoyant ;  here 
he  is  depressed  and  downcast.  There  are  some  schools  for 
children  of  color  in  this  country,  and  many  individuals  of 
both  sexes  have  made  commendable  improvement.  They 
have  evinced  sufficient  capacity.  But  as  a  diffident  child 
cannot  look  up  in  the  presence  of  strangers,  so  they  are  op 
pressed  with  an  incumbent  load  which  no  impulse  of  genius 
can  enable  them  to  shake  off.  A  fair  experiment  in  their 
education  cannot  be  made  in  this  country.  The  constitution 
of  society  forbids  it.  In  their  own  land  no  distinction  of 
color  will  remind  them  of  their  exile,  no  frown  of  a  master 
will  check  the  rising  emotion  of  joy,  no  exclusion  from  pub 
lic  office,  and  no  inferiority  of  rank  will  chill  the  energy  of 
the  soul.  Fame,  and  wealth,  and  official  honor  will  invite 
them  to  aspire  to  excellence,  and  reward  their  patient  indus 
try.  Why  should  they  not  become  learned  in  abstract  and 
useful  science  ?  Why  should  they  not  cultivate  the  fine 
arts,  painting  and  sculpture,  music  and  poetry  ?  Some  of 
the  colonists  grow  rich  with  great  rapidity  ;  why  should 
they  not  accumulate  funds  of  knowledge  ?  Give  them  the 
opportunity  and  the  inspiring  motive,  and  there  is  no  un 
certainty  respecting  the  result.  If  a  literary  establishment 
should  be  made  in  the  colony  of  Liberia,  there  is  no  ap 
parent  reason  why  it  should  not  be  perpetuated  through  the 
successive  periods  of  its  future  history  with  enlarged  re 
sources  and  increasing  usefulness.  Pupils  need  not  be  want- 


256  PLEA   FOR  AFRICA. 


The  College  will  be  sustained. 


ing.  The  intelligent  sons  of  native  chiefs,  the  sons  of  co 
lonists,  young  meji  of  enterprise  and  talent  in  the  West  India 
Islands  and  the  United  States,  may  here  find  an  asylum 
where  they  may  prosecute  their  education  without  prejudice. 
This  will  stimulate  the  ambition  of  the  native  tribes,  reward 
the  fidelity  of  colonists  who  have  borne  the  burden  of  the 
work,  and  elicit  the  talent  of  the  race  wherever  it  may  be 
found.  Especially  may  such  a  seminary  prove  to  be  a 
4  school  of  the  prophets,'  where  the  Saviour  of  the  world 
may  prepare  his  servants  to  publish  his  gospel  of  mercy  to 
the  millions  on  that  continent.  Besides  that  continent  is  to 
be  their  future  theatre  of  action.  And  it  is  an  ample  field. 
It  is  not  a  little  island  environed  by  the  sea.  It  is  not  a 
section  of  country  where  they  will  be  exposed  to  encroach 
ments  from  men  of  a  different  color  and  superior  power.  It 
is  not  in  subjection  to  a  despotic  government  with  which 
they  can  feel  no  sympathy,  and  in  the  administration  of 
which  they  can  aspire  to  no  share.  Nor  is  its  language, 
like  that  of  Hayti,  intelligible  to  a  handful  only  of  all  the 
race.  Nor  is  its  religion  mystical  and  established  by  law, 
denying  to  individuals  entire  liberty  of  conscience  in  the 
worship  of  God.  Whatever  islands  or  sections  of  country 
may  in  the  course  of  time  fall  into  the  possession  of  the 
people  of  color,  the  continent  of  Africa  itself  is  the  cradle 
and  the  home  of  the  race.  The  results  of  their  enterprise 
and  talent  are  to  be  exhibited  there.  In  despite  of  all  that 
philanthropy  can  accomplish,  neither  the  United  States  nor 
the  British  Islands  will  furnish  an  inviting  field  to  men  of 
color  for  half  a  century  to  come.  As  they  advance  to  wealth 
and  knowledge,  they  will  resort  to  the  father-land,  whether 
for  culture  or  commerce.  They  will  seek  it  as  an  asylum, 
a  home.  There  will  be  no  need  of  external  compulsion  or 
constraint.  Nor  will  they  wait  for  pecuniary  aid.  It  will 
not  be  easy  to  retain  them  to  hew  wood  and  draw  water  in 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  257 


Bassa  Cove  a  delightful  country. 


other  lands.  They  will  there  be  the  proprietors  of  the  soil 
which  they  cultivate,  establish  a  government  which  they 
themselves  administer,  and  introduce  the  religion  of  their  en 
lightened  choice.  And  shall  the  want  of  a  few  thousand 
dollars  prevent  the  immediate  commencement  of  a  work  so 
imperiously  demanded  by  the  wants  of  a  whole  race  ?  Will 
not  the  statesman,  the  philanthropist,  the  rich  merchant, 
give  to  this  enterprise  a  candid  investigation  and  a  liberal 
patronage  ?  And  especially  may  it  not  be  commended  with 
confidence  to  Him  who  controls  the  destinies  of  nations,  and 
who  is  pleased  with  the  good  conduct  and  highest  happiness 
of  men  ?" ' 

*  Such  an  institution,'  said  Caroline,  *  would  reflect  great 
honor  upon  its  founders,  and  I  am  sure  would  greatly  en 
courage  the  hope  of  Africa's  final  triumphs.  I  have  seen 
very  encouraging  accounts  from  time  to  time  of  Bassa  Cove. 
It  seems  to  be  greatly  favored.' 

4  Yes ;  Mr.  Buchanan,  late  governor  of  the  colony,  in  a 
letter  to  the  corresponding  secretary  of  the  Pennsylvania  So 
ciety,  has  said,  "  You  may  congratulate  yourself  on  your 
steadfast  affection  for  Bassa  Cove,  for  indeed  it  is  a  paradise. 
The  climate  is  absolutely  good — the  soil  prolific  and  various 
in  its  productions — the  rivers  abound  in  excellent  fish  and 
very  superior  oysters,  and  the  water  is  pure  and  wholesome. 
Our  position  is  somewhat  remarkable,  having  a  river  in  our 
rear,  the  ocean  in  front,  and  the  magnificent  St.  John's 
sweeping  past  on  our  right.  The  luxuriant  and  various 
foliage  which  overhangs  the  banks  of  the  river,  and  recedes 
back  into  the  interminable  forests,  gives  a  perpetual  fresh 
ness  to  the  scene  which  ever  animates  and  gladdens  the  be-, 
holder.  In  America  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  of  African 
scenery  without  picturing  to  our  imagination  a  plentiful  sup 
ply  of  burning  sand,  with  here  and  there  a  fiery  serpent ;  but 

x2 


258  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


The  colonists  contented  and  prosperous. 


what  a  pleasing  reversion  the  feelings  undergo  when  for  the 
first  time  we  witness  the  reality ;  then  the  arid  scene,  with 
its  odious  accompaniments,  is  exchanged  for  the  broad  river 
of  blue  waters,  the  stately  forest,  and  the  ever  verdant  land 
scape,  and  all  nature  charms  with  her  ever-varying,  yet  ever- 
beautiful  and  living  riches. 

4  "  We  have  very  little  sickness  among  us.  When  our 
land  is  cleared  up  and  cultivated,  I  have  no  doubt  that  people 
may  come  here  from  any  part  of  the  Union  and  suffer  little 
or  nothing  in  the  process  of  acclimating.  The  site  chosen 
by  Dr.  Skinner,  and  upon  which  the  town  is  now  laid  out, 
is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  picturesque  that  could  be 
found  in  any  country.  A  commanding  and  remarkable 
eminence  at  the  north  end  of  the  town  I  cut  off  and  appro 
priated  for  the  agency  house  and  officers.  This  eminence 
is  washed  on  three  sides  by  the  ocean  and  two  rivers,  and 
commands  an  unlimited  prospect  seaward,  overlooking  com 
pletely  all  parts  of  Bassa  Cove,  Edina,  and  an  extensive  tract 
of  the  St.  John's  and  Benson  rivers,  and  may,  with  a  very 
little  labor,  be  rendered  impregnable  against  any  native  force. 
I  am  at  present  mounting  a  long  nine-pounder  on  a  pivot,  on 
one  corner  of  the  hill,  which  will  range  our  principal  street, 
the  harbor  and  river. 

*  "  Qur  settlement  has  grown  very  rapidly,  and  quite  asto 
nishes  every  visitor  by  its  appearance  of  age,  and  the  indus 
try  of  its  inhabitants.  No  description  that  I  could  give 
would  convey  an  adequate  idea  of  the  change  in  their  de 
portment,  and  it  would  savor  too  much,  perhaps,  of  self- 
praise,  to  dwell  on  this  subject ;  suffice  it  to  say,  that  gene 
ral  industry,  contentment,  and  good  order  prevail.  Every 
-man  is  now  in  his  own  house,  with  a  lot  cleared,  well  fenced, 
and  planted.  Many  have  small  rice  plantations,  besides  their 
village  lots,  and,  by  the  blessing  of  Providence,  they  will  be 
nearly  all  independent  of  foreign  produce  another  year. 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  259 


The  colony  must  succeed. 


4  "  The  people  are  unanimous  in  their  expressions  of  grati 
tude  to  the  societies  for  their  continued  patronage,  and  ap 
pear  to  be  well  satisfied  with  the  laws  and  their  administra 
tion.  All  have  sworn  to  support  the  constitution,  after  hav 
ing  it  read  at  three  different  times,  and  carefully  explained. 
With  proper  care  at  home,  and  judicious  management  here, 
the  experiment  must  succeed.  Your  location  is  good — 
perhaps  the  very  best  on  the  whole  western  coast  of  Africa. 
A  magnificent  interior  country  can  be  added  to  your  territory, 
as  occasion  may  require,  while  the  whole  line  of  sea  coast 
down  to  Cape  Palmas,  can  ultimately  be  occupied  by  your 
villages  and  cities.  A  climate  of  great  comparative  salubrity, 
and  a  soil  rich  in  the  various  productions  of  the  tropics,  are 
among  the  advantages  you  calculate  upon  with  ever-increas 
ing  certainty.  Industrious  men  alone  are  wanting  to  render 
your  labors  triumphant  in  converting  this  African  wilderness 
into  a  paradise  of  loveliness  ;  and  creating  here  a  home  of 
peace  and  serenity,  where  thousands  may  come  and  rest 
from  all  their  wrongs," 

'  It  is  a  very  pleasing  circumstance,'  added  Mr.  L.,  *  that 
young  men  come  "  to  the  rescue,"  and  associate  together, 
as  in  these  instances  in  our  two  great  cities,  to  help  carry 
forward  so  great  and  blessed  an  enterprise.  When  the 
Young  Men's  Society  of  Pennsylvania  was  formed,  the  pe 
cuniary  concerns  of  the  Parent  Society,  through  a  variety  of 
causes,  had  begun  to  assume  a  very  discouraging  aspect. 
But  the  formation  of  this  Society,  together  with  renewed 
and  vigorous  efforts  on  the  part  of  its  friends  elsewhere,  soon 
revived  the  hopes  of  the  friends  of  Africa.  Subsequent  suc 
cess  has  banished  many  doubts  in  regard  to  the  final  and 
complete  success  of  the  enterprise. 

*  We  have  now  reason  to  hope  that  the  time  is  very  near 
when  many  colonies  shall  be  planted  on  the  shores  of  Africa. 
Maryland,  I  have  before  intimated,  has  already  moved  in 


260  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Colonies  should  line  the  coast. 


this  good  work.  Mississippi  has  also  opened  a  door  for  her 
self,  having  purchased  a  suitable  territory  for  that  purpose, 
The  settlement  is  already  made,  and  the  Colonization  So 
ciety  of  the  State  appropriates  to  the  colony  $20,000  per 
annum.  Virginia,  it  seems,  will  not  be  backward  in  the 
work.  Louisiana  has  resolved  to  establish  a  colony,  and  has 
made  its  selection  and  purchase  of  territory.  And,  what  is 
there  to  hinder  all  the  States  from  coming  up  to  this  work, 
and  planting  a  chain  of  ten,  or  twenty  or  more  States  in  Af 
rica,  which  shall  form  a  republic  in  close  affinity  with  our 
own,  extending  far  and  wide  the  blessings  of  peace,  liberty, 
light,  and  joy  ? 

"  Light  of  the  world,  arise  !  arise  ! 

On  Africa  thy  glory  shed  ; 
Fetter'd,  in  darkness  deep  she  lies, 

With  weeping  eye,  and  drooping  head. 

Light  of  the  world,  arise  !  arise  ! 

Millions  in  tears  await  the  day  ; 
Shine  cloudless  forth,  O  cheer  our  eyes, 

And  banish  sin  and  grief  away."  ' 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  261 


Right  of  search. 


CONVERSATION    XXVI. 


"  Lo !  once  in  triumph  on  his  boundless  plain, 

The  quiver'd  chief  of  Congo  lov'd  to  reig'n  ; 

With  fires  proportion'd  to  his  native  sky, 

Strength  in  his  arm,  and  lightning  in  his  eye  ! 

Scour'd  with  wild  feet  his  sun-illumin'd  zone, 

The  spear,  the  lion,  and  the  woods  his  own ! 

Or  led  the  combat,  bold  without  a  plan, 

An  artless  savage,  but  a  fearless  man ! 

The  plunderer  came : — Alas,  no  glory  smiles 

For  Congo's  chief  on  yonder  Indian  isles, 

For  ever  fallen  !  no  son  of  nature  now, 

With  freedom  charter'd  on  his  brow  : 

Faint,  bleeding,  bound,  he  weeps  the  night  away, 

And,  when  the  sea-wind  wafls  the  dewless  day, 

Starts,  with  a  bursting  heart,  for  ever  more 

To  curse  the  sun  that  lights  the  guilty  shore." — Campbell. 

'  THERE  is  one  subject,'  said  Mr.  L.,  *  that  I  meant  to 
have  noticed  before,  and  that  is  the  importance  of  some 
better  understanding  between  our  own  government  and 
others,  in  respect  to  the  right  of  search.  By  treaties  be 
tween  some  of  the  powers,  the  mutual  right  of  search  is  con 
ceded  to  the  government  vessels  of  each  nation,  of  such  mer 
chant  vessels  of  the  other  as  may  be  reasonably  suspected  of 
being  engaged  in  the  slave-trade,  or  which  have  been  fitted 
out  with  that  intent,  or  that,  during  the  voyage  in  which  they 
are  met  with  by  said  cruisers,  have  been  employed  in  the 
slave-trade  ;  and  the  said  cruisers  are  authorized  to  detain 
them,  and  send  or  conduct  them  to  one  of  the  places  appoint 
ed  by  the  convention  of  treaty  for  trial ;  this  mutual  right  of 
search  not  to  be  exercised  in  any  part  of  the  Mediterranean 
sea,  nor  in  the  seas  of  Europe  which  lie  north  of  latitude  37, 


262  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


Convention  of  foreign  powers. 


and  east  of  longitude  20  W.  from  Greenwich.  To  prevent 
difficulties  and  injuries  which  might  otherwise  arise,  it  has 
been  provided,  that  when  vessels  of  either  nation  shall  be 
arbitrarily  and  illegally  detained  by  the  cruisers  of  the  other, 
the  government  whose  cruisers  have  caused  the  detention, 
shall  indemnify  the  owners,  &c.  of  the  vessels  for  all  dam 
age  resulting  therefrom,  which  is  to  be  determined  agreeably 
to  provisions  made  for  that  purpose.  Such  a  treaty  between 
the  United  States  and  other  friendly  powers,  would  greatly 
facilitate  the  absolute  abolition  of  the  slave-trade.  I  say  ab 
solute  abolition  of  it,  for  it  is  a  painful  and  notorious  fact, 
that  notwithstanding  all  the  precautions  that  are  now  used, 
vessels  are  fitted  out  from  some  of  our  own  ports  by  unprin 
cipled  men,  whose  vile  purpose  is  obvious,  but  who  escape 
with  impunity,  because  the  proper  officers  cannot  arrest  ves 
sels  without  proof  of  their  having  violated  the  law,  by  the 
commission  of  overt  acts.  A  law  giving  to  our  local  autho 
rities  and  naval  officers,  powers  over  American  vessels, 
touching  this  matter,  similar  to  those  which  Great  Britain 
exercises  over  her  commerce  ;  and  especially,  if  practicable, 
an  understanding  with  foreign  powers  which  shall  concede  a 
limited  and  mutual  power  similar  to  that  to  which  I  have  al 
ready  adverted  ;  and  the  presence  of  a  few  American  cruisers 
on  the  African  coast,  to  co-operate  with  those  of  other  nations 
authorized  to  destroy  the  slave-factories  and  barracoons  wher 
ever  they  may  be  found  on  the  coast,  would  greatly  hasten 
the  final  and  total  extinction  of  the  trade.' 

*  But  I  am  surprised,  Pa,'  said  Caroline,  *  to  hear  that 
there  are  any  yet  remaining  in  our  own  country  who  would 
clandestinely  engage  in  the  African  slave-trade,  and  that  it 
is  possible  for  vessels  to  sail  from  our  shores  to  be  so  em 
ployed.' 

«  It  is  lamentably  true,  as  it  is  surprising.     By  recent  in- 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA.  263 


The  extinction  of  the  slave  trade. 


formation  from  Africa,  it  appears  that  American  built  vessels 
are  regularly  engaged  in  this  accursed  trade.  The  way  of 
procuring  them  is  said  to  be  as  follows  : — "  Mercantile 
houses  in  the  Havana,  and  other  ports  in  Cuba  and  Porto 
Rico,  send  orders  for  fast  sailing  vessels  to  their  correspon 
dents  here,  of  course  saying  nothing  about  their  being  de 
signed  for  slavers.  When  launched,  they  are  frequently 
equipped  at  Baltimore  and  New- York.  Even  the  shackles 
for  securing  the  slaves,  and  the  gratings  to  cover  the  hatches, 
not  unfrequently  go  from  this  country  ;  though  a  part  of  the 
latter  are  sometimes  prepared  on  board.  The  shackles  are 
put  up  in  barrels,  and  shipped  as  merchandise.  The  crews 
are  principally  Spanish  and  Portuguese,  French  and  Dutch 
Creoles,  and  a  sort  of  Lingua  Franca-men,  of  no  nation,  or 
rather  of  all  nations,  belonging  nowhere,  or  everywhere,  and 
speaking  all  the  Atlantic  languages.  Some  of  them  picked 
up  in  New- York  or  Baltimore  for  the  voyage,  and  others 
after  she  arrives  in  the  Havana.  These  are  all  desperadoes. 
Some  of  the  crew,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  are  said  to  be,  in  some 
instances,  Americans,  who  sometimes  do  not  know  the  na 
ture  of  the  voyage  until  they  arrive  on  the  coast  of  Africa. 
The  slaver  sails  from  our  port  as  an  American  vessel  under 
the  American  flag,  with  American  papers,  and  appears  like 
a  regular  trader.  She  goes  to  the  Havana,  is  denationalized, 
receives  a  new  name,  and  takes  Spanish  colors  and  Spanish 
papers.  Sometimes,  but  rarely,  this  is  done  at  the  Cape  de 
Verd  Islands.  These  vessels  frequently  put  into  Sierra 
Leone,  and  occasionally  into  Monrovia ;  and,  as  all  appears 
fair  and  smooth,  and  strictly  en  regie,  it  is  impossible  to 
prove  that  they  are  slavers."  ' 

*  Where,  Sir,  are  the  slaves  which  they  obtain  carried  ?' 

*  Some  have  been  carried  to  Brazil ;  some  to  the  Spanish 
Islands,  from  whence  they  have  been  smuggled  in  considera- 


264  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Recent  facts  ascertained. 


ble  numbers  into  Guadaloupe  and  Martinique,  and  it  is  even 
said  that  some  have  found  their  way  into  Florida,  and  vari 
ous  places  on  the  Gulf.  In  this  morning's  paper  I  notice 
an  article  extracted  from  a  late  Lisbon  paper,  which  is  as  fol 
lows  : — "  A  slave-trader  has  lately  arrived  in  the  Tagus, 
consigned  to  Mr.  S.,  a  German.  She  returns  after  having 
sold  her  slaves  at  Rio  Janeiro  and  the  Havana,  with  a  nett 
profit  of  95,000  crowns,  or  10,000/.  after  deducting  every 
outlay,  and  she  will  soon  start  again  on  another  expedition 
of  this  kind.  There  are  three  French  residents  here  con 
nected  with  Mr.  S.  in  the  nefarious  and  infamous  expedition, 
and  unless  our  government  adopt  some  other  course,  the 
traffic  from  hence  will  increase."  ' 

'  Are  those  places  from  whence  slaves  are  now  obtained 
remote  from  the  colonies  of  Liberia  and  Sierra  Leone  ?' 

4  Yes  ;  the  same  ^gentlemen  who,  on  their  return  from  Af 
rica,  recently  communicated  the  facts  to  which  I  have  now 
referred,  say  that  there  are  no  slave-factories,  from  Cape 
Palmas  eastward,  for  several  degrees  of  longitude.  But  to 
show  you  the  extent  of  the  trade  on  different  parts  of  the 
coast,  probably  at  this  moment,  I  will  mention  the  establish 
ments  which  through  the  colony  at  Liberia  have  been  ascer 
tained  to  exist  beyond  the  reach  of  any  colony's  present  in 
fluence.  This  information  you  will  find  communicated  in 
the  Colonization  Herald,  for  December  19,  1835.  I  give  it 
as  it  was  communicated  : — "  At  Bissao,  a  Portuguese  settle 
ment  near  Gambia,  it  is  carried  on  extensively,  but  not  with 
the  open  countenance  of  the  local  government.  The  River 
Pongas,  120  miles  north  of  Sierra  Leone,  is  an  extensive 
slave-market.  The  river  is  navigable  for  large  vessels  60 
or  80  miles,  and  has  several  slave-factories  on  its  banks. 
About  2000  slaves  are  carried  away  annually.  Three  of  the 
gentlemen  who  communicated  these  facts,  saw  seven  slavers 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  265 


Slave-trade  not  practicable  where  colonies  are  planted. 

in  the  river  at  a  time.  At  the  mouth  of  the  Shelear  river, 
a  little  south  of  Sherbro  Island,  a  considerable  number  are 
sold  annually.  The  mouth  of  the  Gallinas  is  the  great  slave- 
mart  north  of  Cape  Palmas.  At  this  place  are  two  very 
large  factories,  with  their  appropriate  suite  of  barracoons,  or 
out-buildings  to  house  the  slaves,  as  they  are  sent  in  by  the 
neighboring  chiefs.  These  factories  are  about  120  feet  in 
length,  are  handsomely  fitted  up,  and  elegantly  furnished. 
They  are  occupied  by  two  Spaniards,  whose  names  we 
know,  one  of  whom  is  very  rich.  They  are  said  to  have 
their  regular  agents  in  (two  cities  in  these  States  !)  No  less 
than  eight  thousand  slaves  are  annuaHy  shipped  from  this 
one  place.  Slavers  are  almost  always  lying  there.  They 
saw  four  slavers  at  the  Gallinas  in  October  last.'  One  of 
them  was  to  sail  on  the  14th  or  15th,  with  450  slaves  on 
board.  Two  of  our  informants  saw  them  dancing  in  two 
circles  on  the  beach.  At  Sugry  River  and  Cape  Mount, 
about  80  miles  north  of  Monrovia,  a  considerable  number  are 
sold  every  year.  They  saw  two  slavers  lying  there  in  Oc 
tober.  Cape  Mesurado  was  formerly  an  extensive  slave- 
market  before  the  settlement  of  Monrovia.  It  is  now  wholly 
broken  up.  The  same  is  true,  in  a  degree,  of  the  mouth  of 
Junk  River.  One  of  the  gentlemen  has  seen  the  remains 
of  the  old  slave-factory,  which  stood  near  the  mouth  of  St. 
John's  River,  before  Edina  and  Bassa  Cove  were  planted. 
In  1834,  before  the  purchase  of  Bassa  Cove,  500  were  ship 
ped  from  that  place,  in  a  single  month.  Since  then,  the 
slavers  have  left  the  river.  Sestras  River,  is,  as  they  sup 
pose,  the  only  remaining  regular  slave-market  between  Cape 
Palmas  and  Monrovia,  and,  in  the  numbers  which  it  furnishes 
annually,  is  probably  inferior  only  to  the  Gallinas.  In  ad 
dition  to  this,  the  slavers  lie  at  anchor  for  a  few  days,  in 
numerous  other  places  along  the  coast,  where  no  factories 
have  been  erected,  to  pick  up  the  slaves  in  the  immediate 


266  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Great  extent  of  coast  ex  post  d. 


neighborhood,  who  have  been  just  taken  in  war.  The  cap 
tains  of  the  slavers  are  generally  men  of  polished  manners, 
and  gentlemanly  appearance.  One  of  them  was,  some  time 
ago,  particularly  kind  to  the  captain  of  the  vessel  in  which 
one  of  our  informants  sailed  ;  sending  .him  a  case  of  claret, 
and  utterly  refusing  all  compensation.  The  slavers  are  all 
sharp  built  vessels,  intended  expressly  for  fast  sailers. 
They  mount  commonly  one  gun,  sometimes  as  many  as 
eighteen.  The  one  gun  is  a  long  32  pounder;  and,  where 
there  are  more,  some  are  always  of  this  description.  *  At 
least  100  slavers  are  to  be  found  annually  between  the  river 
Pongas  and  the  Bight  of  Benin,  including  both.  The  fol 
lowing  places  in  the  Bight  of  Benin  are  extensive  slave- 
markets,  with  regular  factories:  Badagry  Point,  Lagos  River, 
Benin  River,  the  River  Nun,  and  more  especially  on  Brass 
River,  one  of  its  bayous.  The  following  are  similar  estab 
lishments  on  the  Bight  of  Biafra:  Old  Calebar  River,  the 
Camaroons,  the  River  Gaboon,  and  Cape  Lopez.  The 
slavers  in  the  Bight  of  Biafra  are  at  present  exceedingly  nu 
merous,  and  are  spoken  of  as  amounting  to  hundreds."  '* 

•  I  have  seen  it  objected,'  said  Henry,  *  to  the  colony  of 
Liberia,  that  it  has  not  suppressed  the  slave-trade:  but  both 
that  and  the  colony  at  Sierra  Leone,  have  certainly  done 
something,  if  they  have  not  yet  accomplished  every  thing.' 

*  Facts  of  more  recent  date,  Deo.  If36,  as  published  in  the  J\ew  York 
Commercial  Advertiser,  in  a  letter  from  Sierra  Leone,  show  that  ••  the  slave- 
trade  iscanied  on  to  a.greater  extent  than  ever,  and  all  under  the  Portuguese 
flag."  The  letter  sajs,  ••  there  ha\e  been  sent  into  ihis  harbor,  in  the  year 
1836,  54  slavers,  44  of  which  are  actually  condemned.  The  Columbine  has 
captured  the  Veloz,  a  large  hrip,  with  508  slaves;  she  has  arrived.  The 
new  Portuguese  treaty  will  do  little  toward  extirpating  the  slave-trade;  the 
only  effective  mode  would  be  to  declare  it  piracy.  'I  he  slavers  now  in  the 
rivers,  where  they  embark  their  cargoes,  have  landed  their  slave  deck?, 
fittings,  and  irons,  and  will  only  ship  them  again  when  the  slaves  are  on  the 
beach,  and  arrangements  have  been  alread\  made  with  American  \esselsto 
bring  these  fitments  of  a  slave  vessel  from  liavana  or  Rio  de  Janeiro." 

The  Liberia  Herald  of  January,  1837, says,  "  Intelligence,  lately  received 
from  the  captain  of  an  English  merchantman,  gives  sixty-three  slave  vessel* 
lying  at  one  time  at  Loango,  waiting  for  cargoes ! ! .' " 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA.  267 

Our  national  armed  vessels  should  visit  the  coast. 

'It  is  unreasonable  in  the  extreme,'  said  Mr.  L.,  'for  any 
thus  to  object.  To  break  up  the  slave-trade  on  that  whole 
extended  coast  will  require  time,  and  the  planting  of  other 
colonies,  and  the  aid  of  Christian  governments.  It  is  certain 
ly  a  matter  of  great  gratulation  that  so  much  has  been  done.' 

'Are  not  our  national  vessels  occasionally  cruising  upon 
the  African  coast  ?  I  am  sure,  I  think  I  have  seen  frequent 
accounts  of  them  there,'  said  Henry. 

'They  have  occasionally  visited  the  colonies:  not  often, 
and  scarcely  at  all  of  late.  We  have  not  rendered  that  aid 
and  protection  which  we  ought  to  have  done.  Especially 
does  that  coast  demand  our  regard  in  consideration  of  the  fact 
that  the  regular  legal  trade  with  Africa  is  carried  on  chiefly 
by  American  vessels.  These  are  left  almost  entirely  to  be 
protected  by  the  English  flag.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  our 
Government  will  soon  take  this  subject  in  hand,  and  that 
there  will  be  some  efficient  action  by  Congress  in  unison 
with  other  powers,  for  the  suppression  of  the  trade.  Then 
not  only  will  the  native  African 

"drink  at  noon 

The  palm's  rich  nectar,  and  lie  down  ai  eve 
In  the  green  pastures  of  remembered  days, 
AnJ  walk,  to  wander  and  to  weep  no  more, 
On  Congo's  mountain-coast,  and  Gambia's  golden  shore;" 

but  the  prosperity  of  the  colonies  planted  there  will  be 
greatly  promoted,  and  rendered  far  more  efficient  than  they 
can  otherwise  be.  Besides,  the  reproach  will  be  taken  away 
from  us  which  I  had  the  mortification  of  reading  this  morn 
ing  from  a  paragraph  in  one  of  ihe  papers  professedly  de 
voted  to  the  cause  of  the  colored  race,  in  these  words: — 
"True,  America  has  proscribed  the  foreign  trade,  on  parch 
ment  ;  and  that  is  all.  For  to  this  hour,  she  stands  aloof, 
and  will  not  come  into  such  arrangements  with  foreign  pow 
ers,  as  are  indispensable  to  an  effectual  execution  of  the  law. 


268  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Colonization  is  practicable. 


A  British  cruiser  gives  chase  to  a  slaver — up  go  American 
colors  !  America  denies  the  right  of  search  in  the  case,  and 
off  goes  the  slaver  untouched  and  unharmed.  Thus  does 
America  nullify  her  own  law,  and,  so  far  as  she  can,  the 
laws  of  all  other  civilized  powers,  and  unfurl  her  flag  for 
the  escape  and  protection,  rather  than  the  arrest  and  punish 
ment  of  the  slaver !"  ' 


CONVERSATION   XXVII. 


"  As  in  ancient  Rome,  it  was  regarded  as  the  mark  of  a  good  citizen, 
never  to  despair  of  the  fortunes  of  the  republic  ;  so  the  good  citizen  of  the 
world,  whatever  may  be  the  political  aspect  of  his  own  times,  will  never 
despair  of  the  fortunes  of  the  human  race  ;  but  will  act  upon  the  conviction, 
that  prejudice,  slavery,  and  corruption,  must  gradually  give  way  to  truth, 
liberty,  and  virtue." — Dugald  Stewart. 

1 1  HOPE,  Pa,'  said  Caroline,  *  that  the  scheme  of  the  Co 
lonization  Society  is,  beyond  any  doubt,  practicable  ?' 

*  Some  have  pronounced  it  otherwise,'  said  Mr.  L.,  *  an.d 
so  almost  every  great  enterprise  has  had  to  encounter  simi 
lar  objections.  The  first  suggestions  touching  the  feasibility 
of  employing  the  agency  of  steam — the  first  proposition  for 
supplying  by  artificial  means  the  absence  of  natural  facilities 
for  inland  navigation — and  the  object  of  our  revolutionary 
struggle,  were  treated  by  many  as  impracticable.  So  were 
the  plans  of  him 

"  who  first  unfurl'd 
An  Eastern  banner  o'er  the  Western  world."* 


*The  expeditions  of  Columbus,  Cabot,  Raleigh,  Hudson,  Winthrop, 
thorpe,  were  all  considered  visionary. 


PLEA  FOR  AFRICA.  269 

Colonization  is  practicable. 

But  the  experiment  in  this  case  also  is  made ;  the  obstacles 
have  been  overcome  ;  and  their  remains,  in  my  mind,  not 
the  slightest  doubt  of  its  entire  practicability. 

*  The  views  of  those  who  at  first  asserted  the  impractica 
bility  of  the  enterprise,  and  augured  its  defeat,  were  certain 
ly  entitled  to  consideration  ;  nor  am  I  even  now  disposed  to 
join  with  such  as  say  that  those  who,  at  this  late  day,  assert 
the  impracticability  of  the  colonization  enterprise,  "  deserve 
a  straight  jacket" — but  it  does  appear  to  me  that  since  a  pros 
perous  colony  has  been  established,  and  the  most  formidable 
difficulties  have  been  encountered   and   overcome,  ultimate 
success,  on  a  scale  of  vast  magnificence,  may  be  confident 
ly  expected.     It  has  been  well  remarked,  by  a  sound  phi 
losopher,  that  "  the  greatest  of  all  obstacles  to  the  improve 
ment  of  the  world,  is  the  prevailing  belief  of  its  improbabi 
lity,  which   damps  the  exertions   of  so  many  individuals  ; 
and  that,  in  proportion  as   the   contrary   opinion  becomes 
general,  it  realizes  the  event  which  it  leads  us  to  anticipate." 
Mr.  Dugald  Stewart  further  remarks  that  "  if  any  thing  can 
have  a  tendency  to  call  forth  in  the  public  service  the  exer 
tions   of  individuals,  it  must  be  an  idea  of  the  magnitude  of 
that  work  in  which  they  are  conspiring,  and  a  belief  of  the 
permanence  of  those   benefits  which   they  confer  on  man 
kind,  by  every  attempt  to  inform  and  enlighten  them."     This 
enterprise  has  suffered  much  from  unnecessary  discourage 
ment  and  opposition  ;  but  it  is  a  noble  work,  and  in  respect 
to  the  benefit  which  it  promises,  may  well  rank  among  the 
first  of  the  benevolent  and  patriotic  efforts  of  man.' 

*  It  certainly  appears  no  more  than  just,'  C.    remarked, 
4  that  we  seek  in  this  way  to  do  Africa  good  ;  we  have  long 
enough  done  her  wrong.' 

*  True,   my  daughter ;  and  I  cannot   better  express  my 
sentiment  on  this  part  of  our  duty,  than  to  use  the  language 


270  PLEA   FOR  AFRICA. 

Colonization  the  best  way  of  redressing  Africa's  wrongs. 

of  Mr.  Frelinghuysen  : — "  We  have  committed  a  mighty 
trespass.  Africa  has  a  heavy  claim  against  us.  It  is  a  long 
and  bloody  catalogue  of  outrage  and  oppression.  The  re 
port  of  our  national  crime  has  gone  up  to  heaven.  It  rose 
upon  the  groans  and  tears  of  her  kidnapped  children — the 
infernal  horrors  of  the  slave-ship  have,  in  ten  thousand  in 
stances,  wrung  from  distracted  bosoms  the  cry  for  vengeance; 
and  there  is  a  just  God  to  hear  and  regard  it.  On  the  front 
of  this  blessed  scheme  of  humanity  is  inscribed,  in  better 
than  golden  characters,  '  RECOMPENSE  TO  THE  INJURED.'  " 

*  There  is  another  consideration  of  interest  to  every  one 
who  loves  his  country  and  the  cause  of  God.     We  shall,  by 
colonization,  establish  the  liberties  of  Africa,  under  our  own, 
the  very  best  form  of  government,  and  cheer  that  whole  land 
with  the  pure  light  of  Christianity.' 

'  Pa,  I  cannot  think  of  an  object  which  seems  to  afford  a 
fairer  field  for  the  exercise  of  the  finest  feelings  of  the  true 
patriot  and  Christian.' 

*  What  is  patriotism  9'  said  Henry  :  *  I  have  thought  it 
would  be  difficult  to  define  it,  according  to  the  generally  un 
derstood  meaning  of  the  term  at  the  present  time.     Is  it  not 
a  feeling  that  influences  to  the  practice  of  benevolent  acts  of 
self-denial  and  noble  deeds  for  one's  country's  good  ?' 

1  That,  Henry,  is  the  very  best  meaning  of  the  term  when 
properly  used.  True  patriotism  is  not  a  mere  selfish  love 
of  country,  but  an  expansive  feeling  that  regards  the  evils 
that  threaten  or  afflict  the  community  at  large,  and  every 
portion  of  that  community,  and  labors  to  avert  or  remove 
them.  Show  me  thy  patriotism  without  thy  works,  every 
true  patriot  may  say,  and  I  will  show  thee  my  patriotism  by 
my  works.  Empty  is  the  boast  of  a  patriotism  that  nerves 
the  grasp  of  sordid  lust  when  our  country  calls. 


PLEA   FOR  AFRICA.  271 


Colonization  has  claims  on  the  patriot. 


"  Can  he  be  strenuous  in  his  country's  cause, 
Who  slights  the  charities,  for  whose  dear  sake 
That  country,  if  at  all,  must  be  belov'd  ?" 

There  is  much  such  patriotism  in  our  day  ;  and  also  too 
much  of  that  which  will  sacrifice  every  benevolent,  and 
Christian,  and  patriotic  cause  on  the  altar  of  sectarian  illibe- 
rality,  and  the  littleness  of  party  interests.  Ours  should  be 
a  patriotism  that  is  worthy  of  the  descendants  of  revolution 
ary  heroes.  The  evils  of  slavery  in  this  country,  extend 
their  influence  to  every  part  of  the  Union ;  and  the  guilt  of 
having  encouraged,  in  times  past,  the  introduction  of  slavery 
and  the  continuance  of  the  slave-trade,  rests  upon  every  part 
of  our  country ;  and  all  should  be  willing  and  desirous  to  do 
what  may  be  done  with  propriety  to  avert  these  evils  and  to 
expiate  this  guilt.  As  respects  Africa,  the  wrong  which  she 
has  received  from  us,  is,  in  an  important  sense,  a  national 
sin ;  and  as  such,  its  expiation  should  be  national.  What 
our  country,  as  such,  however,  is  not  yet  prepared  to  do, 
true  patriotism  may  attempt,  according  to  its  ability,  to  ac 
complish.  If  we  wait  for  national  action  on  this  subject, 
Africa  in  the  meanwhile  suffers,  and  our  country  must 
suffer.  Without  arrogating  to  ourselves  any  disputed  right 
whatever,  we  may  individually  or  in  associated  capacities, 
do  much  for  Africa's  relief — much  for  our  country's  relief; 
whilst,  in  so  doing,  we  also  confer  a  great  blessing  upon  the 
colored  people  in  our  land,  both  bond  and  free.  And  what 
may  thus  be  done  without  offence,  surely  ought  to  be  done, 
and  done  at  once.  There  is  danger  in  delay,  for  God  is  a 
God  of  justice.  We  may  shut  our  eyes  to  the  fact,  and  the 
mercenary  hand  of  avarice  may  clench  the  fist  which  ought 
to  be  the  open  hand  of  benevolence  and  patriotism,  but  the 
evil  will  one  day  obtrude  itself  upon  our  notice.  We  were 
now  the  happiest  people  upon  earth,  but  for  this  leprosy  that 
is  upon  us.  These  2,000,000  of  bondmen  who  tread  this 


272  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


Colonization  or  ruin. 


soil  of  freedom,  and  those  500,000  of  their  brethren  who  are 
nominally  free,  but  are  connected  with  them  in  all  their  sym 
pathies  and  in  all  their  interests,  with  their  constantly  and 
rapidly  increasing  numbers,  greatly  eclipse  our  prospects 
and  are  portentous  of  calamity  ! 

1  It  surely  needs  not  a  prophet's  ken  to  foretell  what  will 
be  the  result  of  a  continuance  of  the  present  state  of  things. 
A  slight  knowledge  of  human  nature,  aided  by  the  history 
of  the  past,  is  sufficient  for  the  purpose.  Our  black  popu 
lation  was  once  a  mole-hill,  comparatively  ;  it  is  now  a 
mountain — and  what  is  worse,  that  mountain  is,  as  we  have 
seen,  volcanic !  Short  as  yet  have  been  its  irruptions  and 
few  ;  but  they  have  laid  waste  valuable  lives,  and  have  caused 
many  a  family  to  mourn,  sending  also  a  thrill  to  the  very  ex 
tremities  of  our  land.  These  momentary  emissions,  are  pro 
bably  but  the  prelude,  if  something  more  efficient  be  not  done 
for  our  relief  and  that  speedily,  of  a  general  and  awful  explo 
sion.  Southampton  and  St.  Domingo  furnish  some  idea  of 
what  may  be,  unless  the  Christian  and  patriotic  of  this  re 
public,  so  backward  in  its  duty  to  itself  and  to  Africa,  awake 
to  vigorous  effort.  The  same  caCses  with  concurring  cir 
cumstances,  will  produce  like  effects  so  long  as  the  laws  of 
nature  remain  unchanged,  and  the  nature  of  man  the  same. 

4  Some,  it  is  true,  make  a  mock  at  the  evils  of  slavery,  and 
always  puff  at  the  idea  of  danger ;  but  for  myself,  although 
not  made  of  so  yielding  materials  as  to  be  easily  alarmed  by 
merely  imaginary  fears,  I  confess  it  appears  far  more  than 
possible,  that  should  we  be  indifferent  to  our  duty,  and  angry 
discussions  continue,  the  great  and  glorious  Author  of  all  our 
happiness  and  prosperity  may  be  provoked  by  our  sins,  to 
blast  our  national  blessings,  and  lay  prematurely  in  the  grave 
all  our  prospects.  Empires  rise  and  fall  at  His  command. 
We  look  back  through  the  long  vista  of  ages,  and  many  na 
tions  that  were  once,  are  now  no  more.  Others  are  mere 


PLEA   FOR  AFRICA.  273 


Colonization  or  ruin. 


fragments  and  shadows  of  what  was  once  their  pride.  Na 
tions  will  not  exist  as  such  in  another  world,  and  therefore 
receive  the  retributions  of  divine  justice  here.  In  what  has 
been  in  the  history  of  nations,  we  may  read  our  own  doom. 
It  is  written — and  if  we  repent  not  of  the  evil,  confessing 
and  forsaking  our  sins,  and  endeavoring  to  make  suitable 
amends,  whatever  our  national  or  individual  sins  may  be, 
we  must  abide  the  consequence.  There  is,  in  what  we  now 
see,  cause  to  fear.  Those  local  interests,  and  that  local  jea 
lousy  and  personal  ambition  and  unfeeling  cupidity  which 
are  already  supplanting  the  former  sterling  patriotism  of  our 
country,  creating  discord,  justifying  opposition  to  authority, 
trampling  constitution  and  law  under  foot,  glorying  in  part)r 
devotion,  lightly  esteeming  the  national  compact,  and  even 
threatening  the  dissolution  of  our  Union,  may  be  the  very 
prelude  of  a  visitation  of  wrath  from  the  power  of  infinite 
Justice.  A  foreign  influence  encouraged  by  ourselves,  cher 
ished  by  blind  party  zeal,  is  also  every  day  acquiring  strength, 
and  may  one  day  throw  its  whole  weight  into  whatever  scale 
may  tell  most  to  the  ruin  of  our  hopes.  Our  own  native  ci 
tizens  of  the  North  are  divided  in  sentiment — not  in  respect 
to  the  evils  of  slavery  itself — not  in  respect  to  the  necessity 
of  doing  something  to  avert  from  us  and  from  our  country 
the  disgrace  and  the  danger — but  in  respect  to  the  manner  of 
doing  it;  and  angry  debate,  divisions  among  friends,  and 
rioting  and  bloodshed  is  the  consequence  !' 

*  The  violence  of  party  spirit,  and  the  atrocities  that  have 
been  committed  of  late  years  by  mobs,  it  appears  to  me.  Pa,' 
said  Caroline,  *  are  evidence  of  a  great  decline  in  correct 
moral  sentiment,   and  forbode  still  greater  insecurity  and 
danger.' 

*  This  is,  indeed,  a  most  alarming  feature  in  the  present 
political  aspect  of  our  country,'  said  Mr.  L.     « Against  mob 


274  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Increase  of  blacks. 


law  in  any  country,  but  especially  one  like  ours,  there  is  no 
security,  except  in  the  sound  principles  arid  correct  moral 
feeling  of  the  mass  of  the  people.  The  spoke  of  the  wheel 
which  is  upward  this  moment,  may  be  down  the  next,  and 
they  who  are  to-day  applauded,  may  to-morrow  be  the  foot 
ball  of  an  infatuate  and  infuriate  populace.  Nature's  great 
poet  has  well  described  the  influence  and  caprice  of  a  mob ; 

"  Yon  are  no  surer,  no. 
Than  is  the  coal  of  fire  upon  the  ice, 
Or  hailstone  in  the  sun.     Your  virtue  is, 
To  make  him  worthy,  whose  offence  subdues  hira, 
And  curse  that  justice  did  it. 
*****    He  that  depends 
Upon  your  favors,  swims  with  fins  of  lend 
And  hews  down  oaks  with  rushes.    Hang  ye  !   Trust  ye  ? 
With  every  minute  you  do  change  a  mind : 
And  call  him  noble,  that  was  now  your  hate, 
Him  vile,  that  was  your  garland." 

A  resort  to  mob  violence  is  ever  to  be  deprecated,  and  should 
always  be  discouraged  by  every  good  citizen,  let  the  offence 
which  is  made  a  plea  for  the  measure  be  what  it  may.'* 

'  The  increase  of  slaves  in  our  country  is  very  rapid,  is  it 
not,  Pa  ?'  said  Henry. 

* 

*  The  author  is  happy  here  to  quote  the  following  correct  and  very  sensi 
ble  remarks  of  the  Rev.  George  A.  Baxter,  13.  D.,  of  Virginia  : — "  It  should 
always  be  kept  in  mind,  that  in  a  free  country,  the  worst  thing  that  can  hap 
pen,  is  the  destruction  of  the  authority  of  law.  It  may  seem  to  be  an  inno 
cent,  or  even  a  laudable  thing,  to  punish  a  d;mgerous  emissary;  but  let  it  be 
remembered,  that  there  is  no  medium  between  the  power  of  the  law  and 
the  arbitrary  power  of  man  ;  arid  the  arbitrary  power  of  men,  in  whatever 
form,  is  despotism.  When  the  mob  rules,  we  have  an  hundred  tyrants  in 
stead  of  one;  hut  the  more  numerous  our  lyrants,  the  worse  our  situation. 
Should  it  become  common  for  unauthorized  individuals  to  take  the  punish 
ment  of  real  or  supposed  crimes  into  their  own  bands,  any  thing  might  be 
made  a  crime,  every  thing  would  be  unsafe,  and  the  whole  population  must 
be  divided  into  clans  or  parties  for  tho  purpose  of  defence  or  retaliation; 
every  thing  must  be  thrown  into  jeopardy  and  confusion,  and  we  should  los« 
all  the  attributes  of  a  civilized  and  Christian  people.  These  are  considera 
tions,"  the  learned  Professor  adds,  "  which  ought  to  have  prevented  much" 
that  has  been  done  of  late  in  the  southern  stales.  "  Some  of  our  citizens," 
he  says,  "seemed  to  lose  sight  of  these  principlea  in  the  moment  of  excite- 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  276 


Danger  arising  from  a  mixed  population. 


'  Yes  ;  the  increase  is  now  near  60,000  a  year.  In  25 
years,  it  will,  at  the  present  rate  of  increase,  be  140,000  !* 

'  How  formidable,'  said  Caroline,  «  would  be  an  insurrec 
tion  of  millions  of  slaves  !  and  these  perhaps  aided  by  tens  of 
thousands  of  naturalized  citizens  whose  sympathies  are  all 
with  adverse  powers,  and  abetted  also,  it  may  be,  by  the 
blind  zeal  of  many  native  citizens  who  consider  not  the  full 
tendency  of  their  views  and  efforts,  as  well  as  by  the  reck 
less  ambition  of  the  unprincipled  !  An  African  sceptre,  or 
that  of  some  other  foreign  power,  may  yet  be  wielded  over 
some  part  or  the  whole  of  our  country.' 

'  I  do  not  think  that  such  an  event  will  ever  be,'  said  Mr. 
L.,  *  although,  as  I  have  said,  we  are  far  from  secure.  We 
may  be  scourged,  and  that  severely,  to  urge  us  to  duty ;  that 
the  African  m:»y  be  permitted  to  go  up  from  his  house  of 
bondage.  Band  after  band  of  the  rebellious  and  their  coad 
jutors,  may  be  cut  down,  by  the  sword  of  defence  ;  but  this 
necessity  will  be  no  light  affliction  upon  the  heart  of  huma 
nity ;  and  it  will  be  no  light  judgment  which  falls  upon  us 

ment,  but  since  the  alarm  has  somewhat  subsided,  these  principles  appear 
lo  be  appreciated  by  the  great  body  of  the  community." 

It  is  confidently  hoped  and  believed  that  the  same  principles  commend 
themselves  to  the  great  body  of  the  people  in  every  part  of  our  Union, 
May  these  sentiments  predominate,  and  may  all  people — South  or  North, 
East  or  West — Colonizationisls  or  Abolitionists,  or  opposed  to  both  or  either, 
or  in  favor  of  both  or  either,  or  indifferent,  RESPECT  THE  LAWS. 

*  Mr.  Mathew  Carey  of  Philadelphia,  a  warm  friend  to  humanity  and 
advocate  for  colonization,  has  laid  before  the  world  a  table  showing  the  pro 
gressive  increase  of  the  colored  population  of  our  country,  and  the  probable 
increase  fur  the  time  to  corne  ;  and  by  his  statement  it  appears  that, 
In  1790,  our  colored  population  was  757,178; 


1800, 
1810, 
1820, 
1830, 


1,006,921  ; 
1,377,780; 
1,771,668; 
2,330,039  ; 


which  shows  an  increase  of  1,572,831,  in  40  years.    At  the  same  rate  of  in- 
«rease,  it  will  be  for  the  next  40  years,  as  follows  : 

In  1840,  whole  number  ....  3,045,504  ; 

1H50,          -     -  -     4,111,430; 

I860,          -     -     ;     -     .     5,549.435; 

1870,     .  .     .     7,491,737. 


276  PLEA   FOR  AFRICA. 


Even  partial  success  a  great  blessing. 


when  we  shall  look  over  the  long  catalogue  of  the  victims  of 
the  nocturnal  massacre — whole  sections  of  our  land  being 
turned  into  bloody  sepulchres,  filled  with  the  ghastly  corpses 
of  our  friends,  hoary  age  and  smiling  infancy,  manhood  in  its 
strength,  and  womanhood  in  its  loveliness,  virgins  in  their 
beauty,  and  young  men  in  their  vigor,  involved  in  promis 
cuous  butchery,  and  strewed  beneath  the  bleeding  thousands 
of  slaves  and  their  abettors,  who,  having  done  the  deed,  are 
made  to  atone  for  it  by  their  own  blood.' 


CONVERSATION   XXVIIL 


"I  behold  with  thesincerest  pleasure  the  commencement  of  an  institution 
whose  progress  and  termination  will,  I  trust,  be  attended  with  the  most  suc 
cessful  results.  J  shall  probably  not  live  to  witness  the  vast  changes  in  the 
condition  of  man  which  are  about  to  take  place  in  the  world  ;  but  the  era  is 
already  commenced,  its  progress  is  apparent,  its  end  is  certain.  *  *  Where 
then,  my  dear  Sir,  will  be  the  last  foot-hold  of  slavery  in  the  world?  Is  it 
destined  to  be  the  opprobrium  of  this  fine  country  ?" — Lafayette. 

THE  conversation  being  resumed,  Mr.  L.  said,  '  If  the 
colonization  scheme  succeed,  even  partially,  does  it  not  ap 
pear  beyond  doubt,  my  children,  that  our  country  will  be 
greatly  benefitted  ?  It  will  be  enriched.  Tens  of  thousands 
of  places  will  be  opened  for  those  of  our  own  color  and 
habits  and  sympathies — and  by  a  more  wholesome  popula 
tion  and  grateful  labor,  industry  will  be  promoted,  misery 
alleviated,  our  country  strengthened.  Africans  themselves 
will  be  enriched  and  blessed  in  their  father's  native  land,  and 
the  benefit  will  be  thus  mutual.' 

Said  Henry,  *  I  should  think  it  would  be  considered  a  set- 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  277 


Slaves  in  other  times  of  the  color  of  their  masters. 

tied  point  that  general  and  immediate  emancipation  is  hardly 
safe,  and  not  preferable  to  slavery  either  for  the  whites  or 
the  blacks  V 

Mr.  L.  considered  it  to  be  « a  sadly  demonstrative  truth 
that  the  negro  cannot,  in  this  country,  become  an  enlighten 
ed  and  useful  citizen,  so  long,  at  least,  as  what  are  deno 
minated  our  prejudices  against  color,  &c.  remain  the  same ; 
for  such  are  the  circumstances  in  which  he  will  be  placed, 
unavoidably — that  he  will  not,  cannot  feel  a  citizen's  name 
less  incentives  to  a  maply  and  noble  conduct.  The  almost 
united  voice  of  those  who  have  had  the  best  opportunity  of 
judging  in  the  case,  is  "  liberate  them  only  on  the  condition 
of  their  going  to  Africa,  Hayti,  or  some  place  where  they 
will  be  blessed  by  their  liberty,  and  we  secure."  Nor  is 
this  the  sentiment  of  those  who  are  advocates  for  slavery ; 
but  of  those  whose  souls  indignantly  disclaim  so  unworthy 
a  bias,  and  whose  hearts  bleed  for  injured  Africa. 

*  The  slavery  of  other  nations  has  been  that  chiefly  of 
men  of  the  same  complexion  with  the  free.  As  soon  as  the 
slave  was  released,  he  and  his  descendants  might  mingle 
and  lose  himself  in  the  general  community  of  the  country, 
undistinguished  by  any  stamp  of  nature  upon  his  original. 
But  here,  the  features,  the  complexion,  and  every  peculiarity 
of  his  person,  pronounce  upon  the  ransomed  slave  another 
doom.  He  feels  it — and  he  feels  it  too  just  as  we  should 
feel  it,  our  conditions  reversed.  And  if  the  day  ever  arrives 
when  an  universal  emancipation  of  the  slaves  of  the  South 
shall  be  effected,  and  they  remain  upon  the  soil,  those  whites 
who  may  remain  with  them  in  portions  of  the  country  where 
there  shall  be  a  decided  superiority  of  numbers  on  the  side 
of  the  blacks,  will  be  made  themselves  to  feel  that  the  dif 
ferences  which  nature  has  caused,  are  serious  obstacles  in 
the  way  of  their  peace  and  happiness.  The  blacks  will,  in 
their  turn,  resent  the  idea  of  inferiority,  assert  a  superiority 

z 


278  PLEA   FOR  AFRICA. 


Colonization  unites  conflicting  interests. 


themselves,  and  will  become  the  oppressors.     Such  is  the 
honest  opinion  of  thousands. 

*  The  object  of  the  Colonization  Society,  therefore,  meets 
the  views  of  those  who  wish  the  slaves  to  be  freed,  but  who 
desire  also  to  see  them  in  a  community  of  their  own,  "  where 
they  may  taste  the  joys,  sustain  the  honors,  and  be  stimu 
lated  by  the  lofty  aspirings  of  freemen ;  where  their  color 
shall  be  the  common  color,  and  where  a  darkness  of  skin 
shall  neither  cramp  the  expansive  energies  of  their  intellects, 
slacken  the  vigor  of  their  efforts,  nor  in  any  way  establish 
an  insuperable  barrier  between  them  and  the  first  honors  of 
the  state. "     Believing  as  they  do,  and  in  perfect  consisten 
cy  with  the  kindliest  regard  for  their  colored  brethren,  that 
black  and  white  can  never  associate  in  society  as  white  now 
associates  with  white,  on  equal  terms,  having  one  commu 
nity  of  interest  in  business,  in  marriage,  and  the  participa 
tion  of  all  rights ;  and  that,  therefore,  they  can  never  live 
together  in  happiness,  and  that  one  of  these  two  great  and 
distinctive  bodies  must  always  hold  the  ascendency,  they 
feel  impelled  by  a  sacred  regard  for  the  best  interests  of  their 
colored  brethren,  to  encourage  their  colonization  in  a  land, 
where  if  their  happiness  consists  at  all  in  independence,  they 
may  be  most  happy.' 

Said  Caroline,  *  It  is  very  evident  that  great  wisdom  and 
prudence  are  necessary  in  determining  a  question  of  such 
moment.  O,  I  wish  that  good  men  could  all  think  alike, 
and  act  together  in  this  matter,  pursuing  right  measures  and 
cherishing  right  desires.  I  am  satisfied  that  the  whole 
subject,  in  all  its  relations  and  bearings,  is  too  little  un 
derstood.' 

*  Dr.  HODGKIN,  of  London,  a  warm  friend  and  advocate  of 
Colonization,  has  suggested  that  the  fundamental  principle 
of  the  Colonization  Society  may  be  compared  with  that  of 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  279 


Both  blacks  and  whites  benefitted  by  Colonization. 

the  Bible  Society,  whose  avowed  object  is  the  diffusion  of 
the  pure  word  of  God,  "  without  note  or  comment,  an  ob 
ject  to  which  few  can  be  opposed  who  are  not  opposed  to 
the  Bible."  '*  Its  single  object  is  *  the  colonization  of  the 
free  people  of  color,  with  their  consent,  in  Africa,  or  such 
other  place  as  Congress  may  deem  most  expedient.'  I  con 
ceive,"  says  Dr.  Hodgkin,  "  that  the  founders  of  the  society 
are  entitled  to  praise  for  having  given  so  brief,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  so  comprehensive  a  definition  of  their  object.  It 
sets  forth  explicitly  abundant  work  for  any  society  to  under 
take,  without  advancing  any  thing  which  can  come  in  colli 
sion  with  the  expressed  or  even  secret  opinions  of  any  par 
ties  or  individuals,  unless  it  be  of  those  who  believe  that 
the  well-being  of  the  blacks  will  be  promoted  in  proportion 
to  the  increase  of  their  numbers  within  the  States,  a  doc 
trine  which  appears  to  have  originated  since  the  formation 
of  the  Colonization  Society.  *  *  It  cannot,  however,  be 
supposed  that  the  supporters  of  the  Bible  Society  merely 
contemplate  the  scattering  of  Bibles  and  Testaments,  from 
which  no  other  effect  is  to  proceed  than  the  mere  occupa 
tion  of  space.  They  look  forward  to  their  becoming  the 
powerful  agents  of  an  enlightening  and  moralizing  influence. 
But  if  we  interrogate  the  members  of  that  society  individually, 
we  shall  probably  find,  that,  besides  the  .one  object  in  which 
they  all  cordially  unite,  there  are  other  inducements,  differing 
in  each,  and  which  could  not  be  brought  forward  without 
their  again  becoming  the  subjects  of  schismatic  convulsions 
and  violent  dispute.  *  *  *  The  principal  motive  appears 
to  be  to  benefit  the  colored  population  ;  and  more  especially 
that  portion  of  it,  which,  though  not  literally  loaded  with 
servile  chains,  is  nevertheless  suffering  from  the  pains  of 
slavery,  and,  with  but  few  exceptions,  reduced  to  a  misera 
ble  and  degraded  rank  in  society,  and  for  whose  assistance 
many  comparatively  unsuccessful  efforts  have  previously 


280  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


An  honorable  instance. 


been  made.  At  the  same  time  the  founders  of  the  Society 
were  fully  sensible  that  the  baneful  influence  of  slavery 
was  by  no  means  limited  to  those  objects  of  their  care,  but 
that  it  was  also  generally  felt  by  the  great  mass  of  the  white 
population." 

'  Permit  me  here,  my  dear  children,'  said  Mr.  L.,  « to 
mention  the  case  of  one  whom  I  respect  and  esteem,  with 
whom  I  have  often  sat  at  the  table  of  our  common  Lord,  and 
whom  I  have  seen  year  after  year  shedding  around  him  the 
influence  of  a  Christian  example,  in  circumstances  both 
prosperous  and  afflictive.  I  took  some  pains,  a  few  years 
since,  when  travelling  in  the  southern  part  of  our  country, 
to  call  upon  him,  that  I  might  converse  with  him  on  the  sub 
ject  of  our  present  conversation.  This  man — I  will  recall 
the  expression — this  gentleman,  for  gentleman  he  was,  in 
the  legitimate  sense  of  the  term,  had  been  himself  a  slave. 
He  gave  for  his  freedom,  from  what  he  had  earned  over  and 
above  the  daily  sum  which  was  required  by  an  indulgent 
master,  who  had  hired  him  his  time,  one  thousand  dollars. 
He  then,  by  patient  and  persevering  industry  and  frugality, 
purchased  his  wife  and  child  who  were  also  slaves ;  and  for 
them  was  required  to  give  to  their  exorbitant  master,  fourteen 
hundred  dollars !  When  he  told  me  of  this  latter  fact, 
which  I  knew  before,  he  said,  with  a  smile  of  self-gratula- 
tion,  and  with  two  meanings,  both  of  which  I  believe  were 
most  sincere,  "  She  is  my  dear  wife !"  He  still  lives  to 
enjoy  the  fruit  of  his  noble  efforts,  except  as  death  has  re 
moved  his  companion.  He  is  of  a  commanding  person, 
modest  demeanor,  gentlemanly  address,  well-informed  mind, 
humble  piety,  good  judgment,  business  talents,  and  was, 
when  I  last  saw  him,  surrounded  by  an  interesting  family, 
and  possessed  of  two  valuable  plantations.  He  was  also 
said  to  be  owner  of  a  large  number  of  slaves,  and  had  been 
instrumental  in  procuring  the  freedom  of  a  still  larger  num- 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  281 

Views  of  a  virtuous,  intelligent  colored  man. 

ber.  Said  this  individual,  in  answer  to  my  inquiries,  de 
signed  to  elicit  his  views,  "  I  cannot,  to  be  sure,  contemplate 
the  condition  of  my  family  without  feeling.  Color  is  a 
dividing  line  that  of  course  separates  them  from  the  society 
of  white  people,  in  a  great  measure,  and  there  are  few  as 
sociates  for  them  of  sufficient  respectability  among  the  color 
ed.  Respectable  colored  people  are  not  indeed  at  home  in 
this  country.  I  feel  most  for  my  children,"  said  he,  the  big 
tear  starting  in  his  eye  and  falling  down  his  manly  cheek. 
I  suggested  that  some  had  thought  to  better  their  condition 
by  removal ;  he  said,  "  Some  recommend  Ohio,  some  New- 
England,  or  elsewhere,  but  the  same  difficulty  exists  in  every 
place.  Much  has  been  said  of  Hayti,  but  our  own  govern 
ment  and  institutions  are  better  than  their's.  I  have  read 
and  thought  much  of  Liberia,  and  approve  of  the  colony, 
but  the  colored  people  generally  prefer  to  remain  where  they 
are ;  I  am  myself  getting  to  be  old,  and  shall  soon  be  done 
with  earth."  He  expressed  himself  with  modesty  and  cau 
tion,  but  with  proper  self-respect,  intimating  that  if  he  could 
see  his  family  differently  situated,  not  isolated  as  here,  he 
should  die  happy.  It  was  decidedly  his  opinion  that  the 
whites  and  blacks  can  never  live  together  as  one  community, 
both  enjoying  all  those  privileges  which  are  indispensable  to 
the  happiness  of  either. 

*  I  will  now  advert  briefly  to  other  considerations  which 
should  influence  us  in  desiring  to  see  the  evils  and  the  re 
proach  of  slavery  done  away.  A  powerful  motive,  in  my 
mind,  is  the  fact,  that  whilst  humanity  and  patriotism  call 
us  to  the  work,  the  nations  of  the  earth  look  to  us  that  we 
should  do  it.  They  have  before  them,  hung  up,  as  it  were 
in  mid-heaven,  in  view  of  the  whole  world,  for  all  to  gaze 
upon,  that  noble  instrument,  our  Declaration  of  Indepen 
dence.  That  Declaration,  it  has  been  well  said,  is  a  nation's 
oath ;  the  solemn  and  direct  appeal  of  a  Christian  nation  to 

z  2 


282  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA. 


A  nation's  oath. — Our  obligations  as  a  Christian  country. 

the  high  Providence  above  ;  an  appeal,  the  responsibilities 
of  which  were  assumed  in  the  face  of  the  whole  world. 
When  I  think  of  that  declaration,  and  of  the  comment  which 
slavery  furnishes  upon  a  certain  line  of  it,  I  confess  that  I 
feel  the  patriot's  glow  of  wounded  pride  and  deep  regret ; 
and,  were  it  practicable,  I  would  fain  hold  up  that  memorable 
instrument  to  the  view  of  my  countrymen,  and  beseech 
them  to  weigh  again  its  solemn  import,  and  retract,  amend, 
justify,  or  unite  in  practice  which  shall  be  consistent  with 
our  declarations.  With  a  voice  that  should  sound  from  the 
St.  Lawrence  to  California,  and  from  these  shores  to  the 
farthest  West,  could  it  be  done  consistently  with  our  obliga 
tions  to  all,  I  would  exhort  our  country,  and  intreat  every 
individual  to  look,  and  by  harmonious  action,  wipe  off  from 
our  national  escutcheon  this  dark  blot.  Would  the  South  pre 
pare  the  way,  and  could  the  resources  of  our  national  trea 
sury  be  brought  to  the  accomplishment  of  this  noble  deed, 
every  section  of  our  common  country  uniting  cheerfully  in 
the  arrangement,  I  would  greatly  rejoice.  It  would  reflect 
high  honor  upon  our  beloved  land. 

4  Again,  we  should  feel  that  as  a  Christian  people  we  owe 
a  duty  to  Africa  and  her  oppressed  children.  Although  a 
Christian  country,  our  fathers,  such  was  the  ignorance  of 
those  times  in  respect  to  the  true  nature  and  evils  of  slavery, 
sinned  against  humanity,  arid  wronged  that  unhappy,  pagan 
continent.  We  should  feel  that  it  is  our  duty  to  do  all  that 
Providence  now  permits,  to  recompense  Africa.  And  we 
should  also  feel  that  if  we  neglect  our  duty  in  this  respect, 
we  have  the  more  reason  to  tremble  for  our  safety,  since, 
where  much  is  given,  the  more  is  required.  To  these  con 
siderations,  if  I  remember,  I  have  in  some  way  adverted 
before.' 

1 1  cannot  see,'   Caroline  very  properly  remarked,  *  how 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  283 


Heaven  on  the  side  of  Africa. 


any  one  who  has  the  heart  of  a  man,  can  be  indifferent  to  the 
object ;  much  less  how  any  Christian  can  oppose.' 

Mr.  L.  after  a  moment's  pause,  here  repeated  these  lines 
from  Pierpont, 

"  Ilear'st  thou,  O  God,  those  chains, 
Clanking  on  Freedom's  plain.*, 

By  Christian's  wrought  ? 
Them  who  those  chains  have  worn, 
Christians  from  home  have  torn, 
Christians  have  hither  borne, 

Christians  have  bought!" 

4  God  does  hear,'  Mr.  L.  continued,  «  and  already  does  he 
who  has  said  "  ^Ethiopia  shall  soon  stretch  out  her  hands 
unto  God,"  see  her  beginning  to  stretch  out  her  hands,  and 
implore  his  blessing.  She  lifts  one  hand  to  heaven  and 
prays ;  with  the  other  she  beckons  her  children  to  come  up 
from  their  house  of  bondage.  If  we  awake  to  our  duty, 
heaven  will  be  with  us  ;  if  we  will  hold  back  or  resist,  we 
may  still  be  assured  that  God  is  with  Africa.  Her  cause  is 
the  cause  of  justice,  of  religion,  of  humanity.  God  will 
favor  it,  and  if  we  oppose,  he  may  do  it  at  our  cost.  It  is 
true,  the  Almighty  has  not  broken  the  silence  of  the  heavens, 
to  speak  in  favor  of  Africa's  cause,  and  of  the  colonization 
enterprise  ;  but  his  approbation  has  not  been  withheld.  Con 
ducted  with  reference  to  his  will  and  glory,  with  regard  to 
his  authority,  having  also  the  moral  and  religious  good,  as 
well  as  the  civil  and  political  elevation  of  the  colonists  in 
view,  God  will  still  favor  the  cause.  There  can  be  no  rea 
sonable  doubt  that  the  colonization  enterprise  is  approved  by 
him.  As  my  greatly  esteemed  friend,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Beecher 
said,  the  other  day,  in  his  colonization  address  at  Pittsburgh, 
•'  I  do  not  think  that  a  society,  heaven-moved  as  this  society 
was,  by  such  wisdom  as  Samuel  J.  Mills  was  blessed  with, 
and  by  such  wisdom  as  he  commanded  into  its  service,  moved 


284  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Our  obligations  as  a  Christian  country. 


on  by  such  faith  and  prayer,  and  so  blessed  of  heaven, 
as  this  has  been  in  its  past  labors,  and  still  is,  could  have 
been  born  by  wisdom  from  beneath.  As  the  natives  who 
chased  Captain  Wilson,  the  commander  of  the  Duff,  un 
til  they  saw  him  plunge  into  a  stream  so  full  of  alligators 
that  if  a  man  did  but  put  his  finger  in  the  water  it  would  be 
bitten  off,  and  who  supposed  when  they  saw  it,  that  they 
need  do  no  more,  but  upon  beholding  him  emerging  and 
climbing  up  the  bank  on  the  other  side,  cried,  *  Don't  fire,  he 
is  God's  man :'  so  I  would  say  of  this  society,  it  is  God's 
Society.  In  its  commencement  it  was  his  ;  in  its  progress 
it  has  been  his  ;  and  the  station  it  now  occupies  in  the  midst 
of  all  the  difficulties  which  have  grown  out  of  inexperience, 
and  the  peculiar  nature  of  the  subject,  shows  it  to  be  his  ; 
and  so  does  its  success  in  Africa." 

'  It  appears  to  me,'  said  Caroline,  *  that  the  favor  of  heaven 
towards  the  colonies,  and  the  cause  of  colonization,  is  very 
apparent ;  and  I  wonder  that  any  should  dare  oppose,  lest, 
haply,  they  "be  found  fighting  against  God."  And  then  the 
fact  that  so  many  good  and  wise  men  who  can  be  influenced 
on  this  subject  by  no  sinister  motives,  some  of  whom  were 
once  unfavorable  to  colonization,  but  on  examination  have 
changed  their  minds,  are  among  the  warm  friends  and  self- 
denying  promoters  of  colonization,  is  to  my  mind  evidence 
that  is  almost 

"  Confirmation  strong 
As  holy  writ." 

A  Madison,  a  Monroe,  a  Carroll,  Judge  Washington,  our 
greatly  venerated  and  now  lamented  good  Bishop  White, 
Robert  Ralston,  John  Marshall,  William  Wirt,  Fitzhugh, 
Fintey,  Evarts,  Cornelius,  Wisner,  sainted  spirits  now  in 
heaven  with  Ashmun,  and  Mills,  and  Carey,  and  Randall, 
and  Cox,  and  Anderson,  and  others  who  died  in  the  service 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  285 


A  great  and  worthy  enterprise. 


of  Africa ;  what  a  noble  list  might  we  write  of  its  friends 
from  the  catalogue  of  the  lamented  dead,  whose  remem 
brance  is  blessed  !  And  then  the  living — what  an  array  of 
the  names  of  the  great  and  the  good  come  up  before  the 
mind !' 

*  Many  prayers  ascend  to  heaven,'  said  Mr.  L.,  *  in  behalf 
of  the  colonization  enterprise.  It  is  a  cause  dear  to  many  a 
pious  heart.' 


CONVERSATION   XXIX. 


"  In  vain  ye  limit  mind's  unwearied  spring : 
What !  can  ye  lull  the  winged  winds  asleep, 
Arrest  the  rolling  world,  or  chain  the  deep  ?" — Campbell. 

'  GOOD  MORNING,  my  children.' 

*  Good  morning,  Pa,'  said  Henry. 

4  Good  morning,  Pa,'  said  Caroline.  *  I  have  been  think 
ing  much  of  Africa  and  Colonization,  of  America  and  our 
duty,'  said  Caroline ;  '  and  the  more  I  contemplate  it,  the 
more  the  work  in  which  the  Colonization  Society  is  engag 
ed,  appears  so  noble  and  godlike,  that  I  should  think  it  would 
be  considered  by  all  as  worthy  of  the  noblest  energies  of  our 
nature — worthy  the  efforts  and  prayers  of  every  patriot  and 
Christian  in  our  land.' 

*  We  have  reason  to  hope  that  the  time  is  not  far  distant,' 
said  Mr.  L.,  *  when  the  benevolent  and  pious  of  our  land 
will  all  engage  in  this  work,  regarding  Africa,  more  than  we 
have  hitherto  done,  as  a  wide  field  for  missionary  enterprise, 
where  our  most  ardent  wishes  and  untiring  efforts  should  be 
directed.     Every  passing  year,  the  condition  and  claims  of 


286  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Africa's  claims  beginning  to  be  acknowledged. 


Africa  are  more  and  better  understood,  and  the  subject  is 
taking  deeper  and  deeper  hold  on  the  honor,  the  justice,  the 
patriotic  and  Christian  sympathies  of  our  highly  favored 
country.  The  work  will  be  done — and  I  love  to  anticipate 
the  day. 

"  Where  barb'rous  hordea  on  Scythian  mountains  roam, 

Truth,  Mercy,  Freedom,  yet  shall  find  a  home  : 

Where'er  degraded  nature  bleeds  and  pines, 

From  Guinea's  coast  to  Siber's  dreary  mines, 

Truth  shall  pervade  th'  unfathom'd  darkness  there, 

And  light  the  dreadful  features  of  despair; 

There  the  stern  captive  spurn  his  heavy  load, 

And  ask  the  image  back  that  heaven  bestow'd  : 

Fierce  in  his  eyes  tho  fire  of  valor  burn, 

And  as  the  slave  departs,  the  man  return." 

Yes,  it  will  be  done,  for  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath 
spoken  it.  It  will  be  done — and  Africa,  enlightened,  rege 
nerated,  blessed,  will  remember  the  Colonization  Society  as 
her  MOSES,  which  led  her  up  from  bondage.  Forgetting  her 
wrongs,  obliterating  from  her  mind  the  dark  history  of  all 
her  griefs,  and  remembering  only  the  blessings  received,  she 
will  look  to  this  happy  land,  and  say,  breathing  the  sweet 
spirit  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  "  There  are  our  Benefac 
tors."  ' 

« I  trust,  Pa,  the  vision  will  be  fulfilled,  I  love  to  think 
of  Africa  as  a  field  of  missionary  enterprise.  It  is  so  ex 
tensive,  and  gives  promise  of  such  rich  blessings.' 

'As  a  missionary  field,'  said  Mr.  L.,  'it  is  limited  only  by 
the  confines  of  one  of  the  largest  quarters  of  the  habitable 
globe.  Other  missionary  operations,  although  successful  to 
a  considerable  degree,  have  not  had  a  success  corresponding 
in  extent  with  the  piety  and  benevolence  of  their  aim,  or 
with  the  amount  of  means  which  have  been  applied.  Great 
advantages  are  united  in  the  colonization  enterprise.  "Every 
emigrant  to  Africa  is  a  missionary  going  forth  with  his  cre 
dentials,  in  the  holy  cause  of  civilization  and  religion  and 


PLfiA   FOR   AFRICA.  287 


Africa  a  missionary  field. 


free  institutions,  and  the  colonies  which  we  establish  will  be 
so  many  points  from  which  the  beams  of  Christianity  and 
civilization  will  radiate  on  all  that  empire  of  ignorance  and 
sin.  These  influences  must  be  poured  in  from  the  western 
coast.  The  northern  boundary  is  within  the  dominion  of 
the  false  Prophet,  and  no  light  is  to  be  expected  from  that 
direction.  If  we  look  towards  its  eastern  border,  we  look 
to  the  region  and  shadow  of  death."  Colonization  devi 
ates  from  the  practice  of  other  missionary  institutions,  and 
employs  as  agents  the  very  brethren  of  the  people  sought  to 
be  converted.  "It  proposes  to  send,  not  one  or  two  pious 
men  into  a  foreign  land,  among  a  different  and  perhaps  sus 
picious  race,  of  another  complexion  ;  but  to  transport  an 
nually,  for  an  indefinite  number  of  years,  hundreds  and  thou 
sands  of  missionaries,  of  the  descendants  of  Africa  herself, 
with  the  same  interests,  sympathies,  and  constitutions  of  the 
natives.  This  colony  of  missionaries  is  to  operate  not  alone 
by  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  but  also  by  works  of  ocular 
demonstration.  It  will  open  forests,  build  towns,  erect  tem 
ples  of  worship,  and  practically  exhibit  to  the  sons  of  Af 
rica  the  beautiful  moral  spectacle  and  the  superior  advan 
tages  of  our  own  religious  and  social  systems."  Its  means 
are  simple  ;  its  end  is  grand  and  magnificent.  Christianity 
will  beautify  Africa,  and  civilization  will  enlighten  it.  The 
Mahometans  of  the  North  will  feel  the  influence  ;  the  Pa 
gans  who  worship  in  her  forests  and  groves,  will  be  saved  ; 
Abyssinia,  now  lighted  by  a  few  rays  of  Christian  light,  will 
feel  the  full  shining  of  the  Sun  of  righteousness  ;  idols  will 
fall ;  human  blood  will  no  more  be  poured  from  victims  sa 
crificed  ;  the  slave-ship  will  be  driven  from  the  coast ;  and 
Africa  will  feel  a  return  of  more  than  Egyptian  greatness — 
more  than  Carthagenian  glory.* 

*  Touching  the  advantages  for  prosecuting  this  great  work  in  Africa,  the 
Circular  of  the  New  York  Ladies'  Society  remarks ;  "  access  to  her  coast  is 


288  PLEA   FOR  AFRICA. 


Bright  prospects. — Fond  anticipation  of  Mills. 


*  This  seems  to  have  been  the  view  which  the  sainted 
Mills  had  at  the  very  first.  "  If,"  says  he,  "  by  pursuing 
the  object  now  in  view,  a  few  of  the  free  blacks  of  good 
character  could  be  settled  in  any  part  of  the  African  coast, 
they  might  be  the  means  of  introducing  civilization  and  re 
ligion  among  the  barbarous  nations  there,  and  their  settle 
ment  might  increase  gradually,  and  some  might  in  suitable 
time  go  out  from  that  settlement,  and  from  others,  and  prove 
the  occasion  of  great  good."  To  what  work  more  noble, 
could  the  powers  of  this  whole  nation  be  applied,  than  that 
of  bringing  up  from  darkness,  debasement,  and  misery,  a  race 
of  men,  and  shedding  abroad  over  the  wide  territories  of  Af 
rica,  the  light  of  science,  freedom,  and  Christianity.  Whilst 
humanity  points  to  the  thousands  of  the  victims  of  the  slave- 
trade,  and  conjures  us  to  aid  in  its  suppression — and  whilst 
patriotism  calls  us  to  seek  our  country's  good  and  wash  our 
hands  as  a  nation  of  the  guilt  of  slavery ;  religion  speaks 
with  loftier  tone  and  instructs  us  that  all  men  are  "one  flesh" 
— that  we  are  brethren — that  he  who  loves  not  his  brother, 
cannot  love  God — that  all  are  equally  bound  to  the  service  of 
the  Almighty — that  all  are  equally  entitled  to  the  good  offices 
of  each  other,  and  that  he  who  would  not  lay  down  his  life 
for  his  brethren,  has  not  ascended  to  the  height  of  the  Sa 
viour's  charity.  The  day  will  come  when  Christian  princi 
ples  shall  rule  the  world,  and  Africa  will  be  a  bright  and 
happy  part  of  the  Saviour's  dominions.' 

easy — a  voyage  requiring  not  more  than  about  thirty  days'  intercourse  with 
her  inhabitants  is  practicable.  Thousands  have  been  settled  on  her  coasts 
who  are  well  acquainted  with  our  language.  There  are  no  cords  of  caste, 
as  in  many  other  heathen  countries,  to  be  broken — no  regularly  constructed 
and  long  standing  systems  of  idolatry  to  be  undermined  or  overturned.  The 
African  mind  is  vacant  ground  to  be  entered  and  occupied  by  Christian 
truth.  On  this  subject,  Mr.  Pinney  remarks,  '  the  carnal  heart  is  all  the  mis 
sionary  has  to  meet.  The  African  people  have  no  idolatry  to  be  given  up. 
They  never  think  of  such  a  thing  as  worshipping  an  idol.  This  very  desti 
tution  of  all  system  of  religion  preoccupying  their  mind,  opens  at  once  a 
wide  door  for  missionary  effort.'  The  African  temper  is  mild — the  African 
character  more  pliable  to  the  influences  of  the  gospel,  than  that  of  most,  if 
act  any  other  heathen  community." 


PLEA   FOR  AFRICA.  289 


Emancipation  not  our  only  duty. 


Henry  here  started  a  difficulty  on  which  he  had  thought 
much.  *  We  will  admit,'  said  he,  « that  emancipation  can 
not  liberate  us  from  the  responsibility  that  rests  upon  us ; 
that  we  must  do  what  we  can  to  provide  for  our  colored  po 
pulation  in  a  country  where  they  shall  be  truly  free ;  and 
that  we  must  be  satisfied  with  nothing  short  of  the  annihila 
tion  of  the  slave-trade,  and  the  regeneration  of  Africa.  But 
is  it  not  to  be  feared  that  there  may  be  a  lack  of  mental  ca 
pacity  for  self-government,  which  will  after  all,  render  it  im 
possible  for  the  blacks  to  become  a  free,  civilized,  and  indepen 
dent  nation,  and  make  abortive  all  plans  for  their  separate  and 
independent  existence  ?' 

*  Recollect,  Henry,'  said  his  father,  '  that  but  a  few  years 
since,  the  colored  population  of  St.  Domingo  was  sunk  in  all 
the  degradation  and  ignorance  and  improvidence  of  slavery. 
They  took  the  work  of  emancipation  into  their  own  hands, 
and  effecting  their  deliverance,  established  a  regular  govern 
ment,  enacted  wholesome  laws,  ably  administered  those  laws, 
and  commenced  a  march  of  improvement  which  promises 
happy  results.     The  world  cannot  exhibit  a  brighter  ex 
ample  of  wisdom  and  prudence,  if  we  consider  that  example 
in  connexion  with  their  former  debasement.' 

*  But,  oh  !'  said  Caroline,  with  energy,  *  'twas   a  bloody, 
cruel  struggle.' 

1  Yes,'  said  Mr.  L.,  *  there  were  scenes  of  violence  at 
tending  it,  which  every  benevolent  heart  deplores.  The  very 
thought  of  it  makes  one  shudder.' 

*  And  yet,  Pa,'  said  Henry,  *  we  cannot  but  respect  the 
mental  capacity  and  the  energy  of  character,  which  brought 
the  final  result.     Why,  Pa,  since  the  stain  of  slavery  is  na 
tional,  and  we  as  a  nation  are  so  deeply  concerned  in  its  re 
moval,  may  not  appropriations  be  made  from  the  national 

A  a 


290  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


The  United  States  must  engage  in  the  work. 


treasury  to  aid  in  the  object?  If  our  national  Congress  would 
agree  to  sustain  the  expense  of  the  removal  of  the  blacks 
who  feel  disposed  to  colonize,  and  to  relieve  the  owners  of 
slaves  of  a  part  of  that  sacrifice  which  must  be  consequent 
on  relinquishing  their  claims,  it  appears  to  me  that  the  work 
might  proceed  with  as  much  despatch  at  least  as  would  be 
consistent  with  the  safety  of  the  settlements.' 

Mr.  L.  replied,  « Several  of  our  most  eminent  statesmen 
have  recommended  the  appropriation  of  the  income  arising 
from  the  sale  of  the  public  lands,  to  the  aid  of  African  colo 
nization.  Mr.  Madison  has  suggested  that  if  doubts  are  en 
tertained  by  any  as  to  the  power  of  Congress  to  appropriate 
the  national  funds  to  the  object,  the  requisite  authority  might 
easily  be  obtained  by  an  amendment  of  the  Constitution.  It 
is  to  be  presumed  that  the  States  both  North  and  South 
would  approve  the  measure.  In  my  own  view,  there  is  no 
doubt  of  the  right  of  appropriation.  The  public  money  has 
been  expended  in  aid  of  colonization,  and  why  may  it  not 
be  still  further  appropriated  ?  Mr.  Jefferson  said  in  1811,  in 
a  letter  to  Mr.  Clay,  in  reference  to  a  colony  in  Africa,  "  In 
deed,  nothing  is  more  to  be  wished  than  that  the  United 
States  would  themselves  undertake  to  make  such  an  estab 
lishment  on  the  coast  of  Africa."  His  various  correspon 
dence  and  efforts  in  relation  to  this  matter,  clearly  show 
what  were  his  views.  And,  said  Mr.  Monroe,  "As  to  the 
people  of  color,  if  the  people  of  the  southern  States  wish  to 
emancipate  them,  (and  I  never  will  consent  to  emancipate 
them  without  sending  them  out  of  the  country,)  they  may 
invite  the  United  States  to  assist  us  ;  but  without  such  an  in 
vitation,  the  other  States  ought  not,  and  will  not,  interfere. 
I  am  for  marching  on  with  the  greatest  circumspection  upon 
this  subject."  These  distinguished  men  seem  to  have  had 
no  insuperable  difficulty  in  regard  to  the  constitutional  ques 
tion  of  the  right  of  appropriation.' 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  291 


Right  of  appropriation. 


*  I  love,'  said  Caroline,  '  to  think  it  possible  that  the  day 
will  come,  and  that  it  is  already  near,  when  our  country  will 
find  every  obstacle  removed  for  the  free  exercise  of  our  ut 
most  benevolence.     I  long  to  see  our  country  free  from 
slavery's  stain ;  I  long  to  see  the  children  of  Africa  go  forth 
by  the  free  consent  of  the  South,  and  by  the  friendly  aid  of 
our  whole  country,  from  their  house  of  bondage  ;  and  I  con 
fess  I  long  as  much,  or  more,  to  see  Africa  free  through  the 
influence  of  the  gospel.  I  was  never  accustomed,  until  these 
conversations,  to  look  upon  colonization  as  a  missionary  en 
terprise.     But  now,  viewed  in  this  light  alone,  it  appears  to 
me  one  of  the  grandest  schemes  of  true  Christian  benevo 
lence  that  was  ever  undertaken  by  man.' 

*  Colonization,'  Mr.  L.  rejoined,  '  proposes  liberty  to  Af 
rica  and  her  children  in  a  nobler  sense  than  is  generally  con 
sidered.     It  proposes  freedom,  indeed,  from  physical  bond 
age  ;  and,  although  not  by  any  compulsory  or  objectionable 
process,  which  surely  should  greatly  recommend  it  to  all 
friends  of  peace  and  justice,  it  proposes  to  secure  great  tem 
poral  blessings  to  a  now  enslaved  people,  and  to  a  continent ; 
but  it  proposes  more — a  liberty 

"  unsung 

By  poets,  and  by  senators  unpraisecl ; 

Which  monarchs  cannot  give,  nor  all  the  powers  '    ^ 

Of  earth  and  hell  confederate  take  away, 
Which,  whoso  feels,  shall  be  enslaved  no  more  ; 
'Tis  liberty  of  heart  derived  from  heaven."  ' 

The  conversation  was  now  closed  with  the  understanding 
that  it  should  be  resumed  on  the  morrow. 


292  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Objections  answered. 


CONVERSATION   XXX. 


"The  God  of  heaven,  I  believe  from  my  very  sou],  is  with  us.  Under 
such  auspices  we  cannot  fail.  With  zeal,  energy,  and  perseverance,  we 
shall  subdue  all  difficulties  and  ultimately  realize  every  hope." — Henry  Clay. 

HENRY  observed  that  he  had  '  noticed,  on  looking  over  the 
anti-colonization  publications,  that  it  is  objected  that,  even  if 
funds  are  furnished,  it  will  be  impossible  to  transport  so  great 
numbers  to  Africa  as  the  present  and  rapidly  increasing  co 
lored  population  of  our  country,  vessels  not  being  sufficient 
ly  numerous  for  the  purpose.'* 

Mr.  L.  replied,  '  I  know  that  this  is  said  ;  and  it,  perhaps, 
strikes  the  mind  of  the  casual  observer  with  some  force. 
The  annual  increase  of  our  colored  population,  80,000  or 
more  being  added  every  year,  is  great ;  and  the  annual  in 
crease  may  be  more  than  100,000  before  the  necessary  ar 
rangements  can  be  made  for  the  removal  of  a  much  greater 
number  per  annum  than  hitherto.  But  with  adequate  means, 
and  under  the  protection  of  the  national  government,  the 
transportation  of  emigrants  will  become  a  great  and  impor 
tant  branch  of  business.  Our  navigators  will  provide  ships 
^enough,  when  they  are  sure  of  a  reasonable  recompense.  A 
profitable  commerce  will  be  opened  with  Africa  for  her  im 
portant  native  productions  ;  and  the  growing  colonies  will 
themselves  navigate  the  seas,  claiming  a  share  of  the  honor 
and  profits  of  the  transportation.  Increasing  numbers  of  the 
free  will,  unaided,  also  find  their  way  to  the  land  of  their 
fathers,  and  "  having  formed  establishments  of  their  own, 
and  in  their  turn  visiting  our  shores  with  crews  of  colored 

*  It  has  been  well  asked,  "  If  it  be  a  fact  that  sixteen  millions  have  been 
torn  away  from  Africa  by  the  hand  of  avarice  and  cruelty,  cannot  the  gene 
rosity  and  kindness  of  a  Christian  nation  carry  back  two  millions?" 


PLEA    FOR   AFRICA.  293 


Means  of  transportation. 


men,  enterprising  and  prosperous,  they  will  draw  others 
after  them"  to  the  then  happy  and  growing  colonies  from 
which  they  come. 

'  How  many,  suppose  you,  are  every  year  transported  into 
Canada  and  to  this  country,  from  among  the  refuse  popula 
tion  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  ?  Thousands  of  these  are 
sent  in  crowds  and  landed  upon  our  shores  as  forlorn  out 
casts.  We  would  do  better  by  Africans  than  Great  Britain, 
with  all  her  boasted  philanthropy,  does  even  for  her  own 
children.  We  would  place  them  under  far  more  favorable 
circumstances.  And  our  resources  are  fully  equal  to  all  that 
we  can  desire,  if  the  national  aid  may  only  be  obtained. 
United  States'  ships  of  war  might  be  advantageously  em 
ployed  in  this  service,  in  time  of  peace,  transporting  under 
the  stars  and  stripes  of  the  national  flag,  to  the  land  of  their 
ancestors,  the  sons  of  injured  Africa,  where  they  may  enjoy 
the  full  blessings  of  religion  and  liberty.  It  would  be  a  noble 
service,  and  an  honor  to  our  flag. 

*  It  is  true,  we  do  not  expect  to  remove  a  world,  without 
preparing  for  the  operation ;  but  the  transportation  of  our 
colored  population  can  be  effected,  and  expeditiously  too, 
in  comparison  with  the  magnitude  of  the  work.  Great 
things  are  usually  accomplished  slowly.  Liberia  has  ad 
vanced  far  more  rapidly  than  did  the  infant  colonies  of  this 
country.*  It  has  met  with  obstacles,  in  its  progress,  and  so 
did  these  colonies ;  and  we  may  well  ask,  what  great  human 
undertaking  was  ever  exempt  from  difficulties  ?  Are  we  re- 

*  The  slow  increase  of  a  colony  at  its  commencement  is  the  dictate  of 
prudence.  "  The  French  colony  at  Cayenne  was  begun,  as  that  nation  ex 
presses  it, on  a  grand  scale;  12,000  settlers  embarked,  and  almost  all  perish 
ed.  A  few  people  form  the  best  germ  for  a  colony.  Double  or  treble  their 
numbers  every  year,  and  you  will  see  them  thrive.  Pour  in  a  larger  popu 
lation  than  can  be  provided  for,  and  the  whole  must  perish.  In  this,  nature 
points  out  our  course  :  the  shoot  from  an  acorn  rises  at  first  slowly ;  but  as  it 
acquires  strength  it  gains  beyond  conception,  at  every  annual  ring,  till  the 
insignificant  fruit  of  one  short  season  sees  numerous  generations  enjoy  its 
anip'e  shade." — Repository. 

Aa2 


294 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 


Compared  with  other  enterprises. 


ferred  to  Liberia's  bills  of  mortality  ?  A  large  portion  of 
the  deaths  are  attributable  to  rash  exposure,  and  other  im- 
prudencies,  under  the  action  of  an  untried  sun,  and  subject 
to  the  action  of  a  strange  climate.  Another  cause  is  proba 
bly  to  be  found  in  the  destitute  condition  of  some  of  the  co 
lonists,  who  having  been  just  released  from  bondage,  had 
neither  the  foresight  nor  the  means  requisite  for  a  suitable 
outfit,  leaving  them  in  a  situation  of  exposure  which  I  am 
sure  the  experience  and  wisdom  and  benevolence  of  the 
friends  of  colonization  will  guard  against  in  future.*  Still 
the  colony  can  triumphantly  challenge  a  comparison  with 
the  bills  of  mortality  of  other  colonies,  in  their  early  history, 
on  any  continent.  Where  were  the  first  settlers  of  James 
town  e'er  the  four  seasons  had  rolled  by  ?  In  their  graves. 
Where  were  a  majority  of  those  who  landed  on  Plymouth 
Rock,  before  the  rigors  of  the  first  winter  were  past  ? 
They  were  numbered  with  the  dead.  The  same  must  be 
confessed  of  other  colonies.  True,  they  were  a  sacrifice  to 
public  good.  So  the  event  is  now  regarded  by  their  pos 
terity  and  the  world  ;  and  so  the  lesser  trials  which  Liberia 
has  encountered  will  be  viewed  when  the  page  of  history 
shall  bear  a  fair  record  of  the  past  and  the  present,  and  of  a 
few  years  to  come. 

4  A  writer  in  the  Boston  Recorder  has  remarked,  "Men 
may  sacrifice  life  in  the  pursuits  of  gain  at  Havana,  at   Cal- 

*  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  those  whose  generous  feeling  leads  them  to  libe 
rate  their  slaves  for  the  purpose  of  their  voluntary  settlement  in  Africa,  will 
avail  themselves  of  the  experience  which  is  had  in  relation  to  this  subject, 
and  see  that  those  whom  they  manumit  for  emigration  are  provided  with  all 
suitable  apparel  and  other  necessaries  and  comforts.  A  mattress  and  bed 
clothes,  and  a  full  supply  of  cotton  and  woollen  clothing,  are  indispensable. 
The  author  is  happy  to  find  that  the  ladies,  who,  their  benevolent  hearts  al 
ways  prompting  them  to  kind  actions,  are  generally  found  efficient  suppor 
ters  of  the  cause  of  colonization  where  its  claims  are  understood,  have  in 
many  instances  rendered  very  great  assistance  in  the  preparation  and  gra 
tuitous  offering  of  bedding  and  garments  for  the  destitute  among  the  emigrat 
ing  colonists.  May  this  good  work  of  charity  be  continued,  and  the  number 
who  shall  lend  a  helping  hand  be  greatly  increased  ! 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA.  295 


Great  things  usually  accomplished  slowly. 


cutta,  and  at  any  other  unhealthy  spot  on  the  globe,  most 
prodigally,  and  no  complaint  is  made.  But  if  a  number  of 
individuals  fall  a  sacrifice  in  a  benevolent  enterprise,  in  an 
effort  to  pour  the  light  of  eternal  life  on  dark  and  forlorn 
Africa,  why  it  is  a  criminal  waste  of  human  life.  But  no, 
it  is  not  thus.  Ashmnn  lived  only  six  years  after  he  went 
to  Africa,  but  he  lived  nobly.  Mills  lived  hardly  six  months, 
but  Mills  lived  not  in  vain ;  his  example  shines  with  no 
feeble  lustre  ;  his  voice  speaks  from  the  depths  of  the  At 
lantic,  and  it  will  speak  till  Africa  is  free.  Anderson,  and 
Lott  Carey,  and  Randall,  and  Skinner,  were  soon  cut  down, 
but  their  names  will  live  till  time  shall  be  no  longer.  " 

Caroline  here  remarked,  '  if  we  look  at  missionary  opera 
tions  in  India,  the  sacrifice  of  life  has  been  as  great  as  in 
Liberia ;  has  it  not,  Pa  ?' 

Mr.  L.  replied,  '  the  average  life  of  the  missionaries  of 
the  American  Board,  in  India,  has  been  but  five  years.  Fiske, 
and  Newall,  and  Hall,  and  Parsons,  and  other  choice  spirits 
were  soon  numbered  with  the  dead.  But  though  they  found 
an  early  grave  in  heathen  lands,  and  the  benevolent  mourn 
their  loss,  and  Christianity  weeps  at  the  desolations  of 
paganism,  we  do  not  cease  to  aim  at  the  conversion  of  the 
heathen  world.  India  is  not  abandoned,  because  trials  are 
there  endured  in  founding  the  church.  Liberia  is  to  the 
colored  man  a  land  of  promise,  compared  with  what  India  is 
to  missionaries  from  this  country.' 

Caroline  said,  '  I  do  not  think  that  it  can  be  reasonably 
objected  to  colonization  that  its  success  has  been  slow,  for 
two  reasons ;  one  is,  as  appears,  that  such  is  not  the  fact ; 
but,  if  it  were,  another  reason  is,  that  the  same  objection 
would  be  against  every  good  cause,  even  against  the  Chris 
tian  religion.' 


296  PLEA    FOR   AFRICA, 


Room  enough  in  Africa. 


*  True,  Caroline,'  Mr.  L.  replied  ;  *  notwithstanding  the 
toils  of  its  friends  for  near  two  thousand  years,  and  the  blood 
of  its  many  martyrs  shed  in  the  cause,  even  the  knowledge 
of  our  holy  religion  is  confined  to  a  comparatively  small  part 
of  the  human  family.' 

1  Another  objection,'  said  Henry,  *  which  I  have  heard,  is 
that,  if  all  the  blacks  would  go  to  Africa,  they  would  not  find 
room  there  for  so  many.' 

*  This  objection,  I  am  sure,'  said  his  father,   ' can  never 
be  seriously  urged,  unless  through  extreme  ignorance.    What 
are  two  millions  and  a  half  of  people  to  the  vast  extent  of 
the  African  continent,  stretching  4,800  miles  from  North  to 
South,  and  4000  miles  from  East  to  West?     They  would 
not  be  more  than  would  be  needed  to  help  civilize  and  chris 
tianize  the  benighted  natives,  and  establish  among  them  arts, 
and  commerce,  and  agriculture,  and  the  like.     Africa,  when 
we  consider  its  extent,  its  variety  of  soil,  and  capability  of 
sustaining  an  immense  population,  is  thinly  peopled.    Colo 
nization,  it  should  be  remembered,  is  not  necessarily  confined 
to  Liberia  and  its   vicinity.     It  is  a  lamentable  reflection/ 
said  Mr.  L.,  '  that,  charity  leads  us  to  think,  for  the  want  of 
a  faithful  examination  of  the  subject,  the  most  serious  ob 
stacles  which  the  cause  has  met  in  its  progress,  have  been 
the  untenable   and  oft-refuted  objections,  bitter  opposition 
and  severe  denunciations  of  professed  friends  of  Africa  in  our 
own  country.     It  grieves  me  that  it  should  be  so,  since 
among  them  are  some  whom  I  greatly  esteem,  notwithstand 
ing  this  their  very  great  error.' 

4 1  do  not  see,  Pa,  how  any  who  understand  this  subject, 
(and  all  ought  to  understand  it,)  can  oppose.  If  the  Coloni 
zation  Society  cannot,  in  their  labors  of  benevolence,  do  all 
that  is  needful  to  be  done,  and  as  soon  as  is  desirable,  yet 
why  should  good  men  object  to  their  attempting  all  that  is 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  297 


All  opposition  is  wrong. 


really  practicable,  and  that  would  be,  if  accomplished,  really 
useful !' 

*  Professor  Silliman  has  gone  so  far  as  to  remark,'  said 
Mr.  L.,  *  that  all  efforts  on  the  part  of  the  friends  of  Afri 
can  improvement  to  discountenance  and  oppose  voluntary 
African  colonization,  are  morally  wrong,  and  can  be  called 
by  no  milder  name  than  systematized  opposition  against  the 
whole  African  cause,  embracing  slaves,  free  colored  people, 
and  the  native  nations  of  Africa. 

4  Could  the  demands  of  many  be  realized,  and  the  color 
ed  race  be  made  free  in  this  country,  however  well  they  may 
intend,  I  am  sure  they  would  at  once  and  continually  have 
cause  to  mourn  over  those  who  are  now  slaves,  and  in  their 
labors  of  love  would  find  ample  employment  in  visits  of 
mercy  to  our  jails  and  penitentiaries,  and  to  the  haunts  of 
vice,  and  abodes  of  poverty.  They  would  find  the  country 
involved  in  great  ruin ;  the  colored  people  in  great  wretch 
edness,  and  their  very  success  would  be  their  own  defeat,  so 
far  as  benevolent  interest  is  concerned.  But  their  wishes,  I 
am  morally  certain,  cannot  be  realized,  even  though  rivers 
of  blood  should  be  shed ;  and  the  longer  the  duration  and 
the  greater  the  fierceness  of  their  opposition,  the  longer  do 
they  perpetuate  the  evils  of  slavery  in  our  land,  and  the 
stronger  do  they  rivet  the  chains  of  the  slave,  and  the  heavier 
the  calamity  which  they  bring  both  on  the  bond  and  the  free, 
especially  the  slave  and  the  free  blacks. 

|  And  then,  let  them  say,  shall  not  Africa  be  civilized  and 
converted  to  God  ? 

"  While  on  the  distant  Hindoo  shore 

Messiah's  cross  is  reared, 
While  Pagan  votaries  bow  no  more 

With  idol  blood  besmeared — 

While  Palestine  again  doth  hear 
The  gospel's  joyful  sound, 


298  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


Shall  not  Africa  be  christianized. 


While  Islam's  crescents  disappear 
From  Calvary's  holy  ground — 

Say,  shall  not  Afric's  fated  land 

With  news  of  grace  be  blest  ? 
Say,  shall  not  ^Ethiopia's  band 

Enjoy  the  promis'd  rest  ?" 

4  They  who  have  considered  colonization  in  its  influence 
on  our  own  country  only  and  on  the  blacks  that  are  in  it, 
have  taken  a  very  inadequate  view  of  its  amazing  interest 
and  unbounded  extent.  If  the  plan  fail,  or  be  hindered  by 
opposition,  they  who  oppose  this  great  and  good  work,  I  do 
believe,  will  have  a  tremendous  account  to  give.' 

*  I  do  not  see,  Pa,  that  the  Colonization  Society  and  the 
Abolition  or  Anti-slavery  Society,  are  associations  of  neces 
sarily  conflicting  interests.' 

«  They  are  not,  and  there  should  be  no  controversy  be 
tween  them.  "  The  cause  of  emancipation  will  advance  as 
fast  as  means  of  emigration  and  of  comfortable  settlement  in 
Africa  or  in  other  lands  are  provided.  Cut  off  this  hope, 
and  remove  this  security,  and  the  slave-holding  States  will 
refuse  to  add  to  the  mass  of  free  people  of  color,  already,  in 
their  view,  too  numerous  for  safety."  They  will  resolve  on 
making  more  strong  their  chains,  hopeless  of  relief,  to  guard 
against  a  greater  calamity  than  appears  to  them  even  slavery 
itself;  and  "linked  in  full  military  preparation  and  in  wake 
ful  vigilance,"  they  will  await  the  issue.  "  In  the  meantime, 
the  slightest  appearance  or  even  suspicion  of  revolt  will  be 
visited  by  prompt  and  sanguinary  retribution."  Thus, 
"  anxiety  will  shroud  the  domestic  circle  of  the  slave-holder 
in  gloom,  and  despair  will  settle  upon  the  dark  mind  of  the 
slave" — until  perhaps  some  awful  explosion  shall  come  ! 

*  There  is  one  objection  to  the  American  Colonization  So 
ciety  which,  it  appears  to  me,  may  with  equal  propriety  be 


PLEA   FOR   AFRICA.  209 


Colonization  a  noble  branch  of  benevolence. 


urged  against  the  benevolent  institutions  of  the  day  general 
ly,  and  the  unreasonableness  of  which  is  too  apparent  to 
justify  any  misapprehension  of  the  force  of  the  objection,  or 
to  permit  its  further  use ;  that  is,  that  the  Colonization  So 
ciety  does  not  itself  engage  in  the  work  of  emancipation* 
urging  the  duty  of  immediate  abolition.     This  truly  is  to 
object  that  one  great  and  good  institution,  which,  with  great 
sacrifice,  zeal,  perseverance,  and  success,  pursues  a  great 
and  worthy  object,  is  not  another  institution,  aye,  quite  an 
other  thing,  which  it  never  professed  to  be.     Why  may  not 
the  same  be  objected  to  all  Missionary  Associations,  Educa 
tion  Societies,  Bible  Societies,  Tract  Societies,  &c.  that  their 
professed  object  and  direct  aim  is  not  abolition  ?     They  are 
formed  for  the  accomplishment  of  great  and  good  objects ; 
but  they  have  nothing  to  do  with  an  interference  in  the  do 
mestic  relations  which  they  find  existing  in  our  country. 
They  would  send  the  gospel  to  all,  without  distinction  of 
color,  that  are  perishing  for  lack  of  vision — they  would  assist 
in  raising  up  and  qualifying  the  pious  and  self-denying  to 
preach  the  everlasting  gospel  to  a  world  that  lieth  in  wick 
edness — they  would  put  into  the  hands  of  every  son  and 
daughter  of  Adam  the   word  of  life — they  would  scatter 
abroad  by  every  proper  means  that  light  which  may  guide 
in  the  paths  of  peace  and  lead  to  holiness,  happiness,  and 
heaven  ;  but  they  have  each  their  distinct  object  in  view, 
whilst  they  are  but  several  parts  of  one  great  system  of 
Christian  benevolence.     The  American  Colonization  Socie 
ty  aims,  as  one  branch  of  the  great  system  of  that  benevo 
lence  which  the  Spirit  of  God  has  awakened  in  Christendom, 
to  open  an  asylum  for  the  oppressed  in  our  land,  encourag 
ing  voluntary  emancipation,  and  to  put  an  end  to  the  slave- 
trade  and  the  oppression  of  Africa  by  planting  Christian  co 
lonies  upon  her  shores.     Is  not  the  object  great  and  good? 
Is  it  reasonable  to  oppose  a  good  object  because,  forsooth,  it 


300  PLEA   FOR   AFRICA. 


All  good  associations  have  not  the  same  object. 


is  not  another  good  object  ?     Why  should  so  much  opposi 
tion  centre  upon  colonization  ? 

4  Those  who  constitute  the  Anti-slavery  and  Colonization 
Societies,  I  may  confidently  say,  without  at  all  approving  of 
all  the  principles  of  the  former,  much  less  of  all  their  lan 
guage  and  measures,  are  agreed  for  the  most  part,  in  their 
views  of  slavery  as  a  great  evil,  and  in  respect  to  the  desira 
bleness  of  its  termination  ;  and  disagree  in  respect  to  the  best 
and  proper  and  most  effectual  means  by  which,  under  all  the 
circumstances,  its  extinction  shall  be  consummated.  With 
an  honest  difference  of  opinion  on  this  subject,  surely  each 
may  move  under  its  own  banner  without  molestation  of  the 
other,  each  in  its  own  sphere,  at  its  own  proper  work :  in 
the  use  of  all  proper  means,  and  ultimately,  indulging  the 
spirit  of  kindness  and  love,  and  pursuing  lawful  and  honor 
able  measures,  they  may  join  together  in  the  celebration  of  a 
glorious  triumph.' 

'  I  trust,  Pa,'  said  C.,  *  that  bright  days  are  yet  before  us, 
and  that  great  and  happy  results  will  crown  the  efforts  of  the 
true  friends  of  Africa.  I  certainly  da  not  see  how  any  can 
oppose  the  colonization  cause,  nor  yet,  indeed,  how  they 
can  refuse  to  sustain  its  efforts.' 

'  Should  the  cause  of  colonization  fail,'  said  Mr.  L., 
*  those  efforts  which  have  hitherto  been  crowned  with  such 
signal  success  being  discouraged,  or  through  opposition  ren 
dered  fruitless,  I  am  sure  that  the  fond  hopes  of  many  a  pa 
triot — the  devout  prayers  of  many  a  Christian — the  awaken 
ed  sensibilities  of  many  a  master — and  the  delighted  visions 
of  many  a  slave — will  be  most  sadly  disappointed. 

4  Suppose,  for  a  moment,  this  to  be  : — the  American  Colo 
nization  Society  has  opened  an  asylum  for  the  oppressed — 
she  points  to  a  luxuriant  soil,  to  a  genial  climate — with  gra 
titude,  she  tells  how  God  has  turned  the  hearts  of  the  heathen 


PLEA    FOR    AFRICA.  301 


It  will  prosper — the  cause  is  of  God. 


towards  the  colony — thousands  press  upon  her  anxious  to 
depart  to  the  land  of  their  fathers — masters  are  ready  to 
permit  thousands  more  to  swell  their  numbers — and  she 
calls  to  us  to  help  Africa,  to  help  America.  The  voice  of 
opposition  and  bitter  reproach  is  heard  !  Some  fold  their 
arms  with  listless  unconcern — others  are  disheartened  and 
cease  from  their  wonted  benevolence — and  the  opposition 
triumphs  !  That  wisdom  and  philanthropy  which  have. been 
successfully  exerted  in  devising  the  plan  which  has  caused 
this  hitherto  soul-cheering  progress  in  the  cause  of  liberty, 
humanity,  and  religion,  and  in  unfolding  the  resources  for 
its  final  accomplishment,  has  all  been  in  vain  !  That  terri 
tory,  so  extensive,  so  salubrious,  so  fertile,  must  be  yielded 
again  to  savage  beasts  of  prey — those  flourishing  towns,  fair 
villages,  peaceful  habitations,  must  be  no  longer  tenanted  by 
a  happy  new-born  race  of  freemen — those  farms  must  be  laid 
waste — that  commerce  must  close — those  lights  of  religion 
and  science,  churches  and  schools,  must  be  extinguished — 
those  banners  of  freedom,  and  those  impregnable  fortresses 
over  which  they  wave,  and  that  free  republican  government 
and  the  press  which  vindicates  the  righteous  cause,  must 
cease — those  nearly  5,000  souls  charmed  with  a  Pisgah 
view  of  promised  blessings  of  learning,  freedom,  and  reli 
gion,  must  be  exiled  from  their  schools,  their  temples  of  jus 
tice,  their  churches  dedicated  to  God,  and  from  all  they  now 
hold  dear — and  Afric's  dreary  coast  must  again  reverberate 
the  deafening  yell  of  despair  wrung  from  many  an  agonized 
heait !  Would  this  be  a  blessing?  or,  say,  would  it  be  an 
awful  CALAMITY  ?  A  calamity?  Why,  but  because  the  Co 
lonization  Society,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  has  effected  this 

GREAT  GOOD  ? 

•  And  now,  may  this  Society,  which  has  been  enabled  to 
do  so  much,  and  whose  prospects  are  so  cheering,  be  per 
mitted  to  go  on  with  more  than  arithmetical  progression  in 

Bb 


302  PLEA    FOR    AFRICA. 

The  cause  is  of  God. 

its  work  of  mercy.  It  will,  I  am  confident,  never  cause  to 
humanity  a  tear ;  it  may,  and  I  doubt  not,  will  give  joy  and 
happiness  to  millions !  Shall  it  not  live?  — shall  it  not  be 
permitted  to  prosper  ?  It  is  preparing  the  way  for  the  final 
REDEMPTION  of  Jlfrica,  and  for  the  universal  sway  of  THE 
KINGDOM  OF  THE  LORD  JESUS  !  Who  will  presume  to  stay 
its  progress  ?  To  detach  from  its  holy  influence  is  TREASON 

TO  OUR  COUNTRY MOST  UNMERCIFUL  TO  AFRICA SACRI 
LEGE  IN  THE  VIEW  OF  HEAVEN  !  But  to  aid  this  cause,  is 

HIGH    HONOR A    MOST    DISTINGUISHED    PRIVILEGE  !* 


APPENDIX. 


EARLY    AND  DISTINGUISHED    FRIENDSOF 
COLONIZATION. 


IN  the  progress  of  the  foregoing  Conversations,  particular 
reference  has  been  made  to  several  of  the  early  and  distin 
guished  friends  of  African  Colonization  :  the  author  is  sen 
sible  that  in  an  attempt  to  do  justice  to  some,  he  may  by 
omission  seem  to  do  injustice  to  others.  He  cannot,  how.- 
ever  refrain  from  a  passing  tribute,  before  these  sheets  pass 
from  the  press,  as  an  acknowledgment  of  the  valuable  ser 
vices  of  a  few  among  the  noble  friends  of  Africa,  whose 
work  is  done  on  earth,  but  who  have  left  a  memorial  behind 
them,  and  "  shall  be  in  everlasting  remembrance."  And  first 
may  be  mentioned,  with  propriety,  more  particularly  than 
before, 

THE  REV.  ROBERT  FINLEY. 

To  Mr.  Finley,  at  that  time  resident  at  Basking  Ridge, 
New-Jersey,  is  conceded  by  all,  a  great  share  in  the  honor 
of  originating  the  American  Colonization  Society.  For 
years,  this  eminent  Christian  had  viewed  the  condition  of  the 
free  colored  population  of  our  country  with  sympathising  in 
terest,  and  "  the  whole  vigor  of  his  intellect  was  aroused, 
to  form  plans  for  their  relief."  Among  "  the  exiled  children 
of  Africa,  this  good  man  saw  not  merely  the  heirs  to  a  tern- 


304  APPENDIX. 

poral,  but  to  an  eternal  existence  ;  not  those  possessing  mere- 
1  y  the  virtues  of  natural  and  social  affection,  but  also  capaci 
ties  for  the  high  improvements  and  joys  of  an  immortal 
state."  Early  in  the  year  1815,  he  expressed  himself  to  a 
friend  as  follows:  "The  longer  I  live  to  see  the  wretched 
ness  of  men,  the  more  I  admire  the  virtue  of  those  who  de 
vise,  and  with  patiencelabor  to  execute  plans  for  the  relief  of 
the  wretched.  On  this  subject,  the  state  of  the  free  blacks, 
has  very  much  occupied  my  mind.  Their  number  increases 
greatly,  and  their  wretchedness,  as  appears  to  me.  Every 
thing  connected  with  their  condition,  including  their  color, 
is  against  them  ;  nor  is  there  much  prospect  that  their  state 
can  ever  be  greatly  meliorated,  while  they  shall  continue 
among  us.  Could  not  the  rich  and  benevolent  devise  means 
to  form  a  colony  on  some  part  of  the  coast  of  Africa,  simi 
lar  to  the  one  at  Sierra  Leone,  which  might  gradually  induce 
many  free  blacks  to  go  and  settle,  devising  for  them  the  means 
of  getting  there,  and  of  protection  and  support  till  they  are 
established?  Could  they  be  sent  back  to  Africa,  a  three 
fold  benefit  would  arise.  We  should  be  cleared  of  them ; 
we  should  send  to  Africa  a;  population  partly  civilized  and 
christianized  for  their  benefit ;  and  our  blacks  themselves 
would  be  put  in  a  better  situation.  Think  much  upon  this 
subject,  and  then  please  to  write  me  when  you  have  leisure." 
Mr.  Finley  was  satisfied  of  the  practicability  and  utility 
of  the  project,  and  encouraged  by  the  opinions  of  others, 
"  resolved  to  make  a  great  effort  to  carry  his  benevolent 
views  into  effect.  *  *  In  making  preparatory  arrange 
ments,  he  spent  a  considerable  part  of  the  fall  of  1816," 
and,  "  determined  to  test  the  popularity,  and  in  some  mea 
sure  the  practicability  of  the  whole  system,"  he  at  length  in 
troduced  the  subject  to  public  notice  in  the  city  of  Washing 
ton.  For  this  purpose,  he  visited  several  members  of  Con 
gress,  the  President,  the  heads  of  Department,  and  others. 
His  conversation  and  zeal  is  said  to  have  done  much  in  ar- 


APPENDIX.  305 

resting  attention  to  the  subject,  and  conciliating  many  who 
at  first  appeared  opposed.  He  proposed  a  special  season  of 
prayer  in  reference  to  the  object,  and  several  pious  persons 
met  him  for  the  purpose  of  spending  an  hour  in  such  an  ex 
ercise.  When  told  that  some  were  incredulous,  and  that 
some  ridiculed  the  plan  proposed,  he  replied,  "  I  know  this 
scheme  is  from  GOD." 

Having  disinterestedly  and  perseveringly  prosecuted  the 
great  object  of  his  desire,  and  performed  a  conspicuous  part 
in  the  organization  of  the  Society,  he  was  soon  called  from 
his  Christian  labors  on  earth,  to  his  reward  in  heaven.  His 
name  stood  enrolled  among  the  Vice-Presidents  of  the  insti 
tution — but  his  work  is  done  ;  and  upon  the  foundation 
which  he  laid,  others  are  called  by  the  providence  of  God  to 
build. 

JAMES  MADISON, 

the  profound  statesman,  the  accomplished  scholar,  the  hum 
ble  Christian,  who  filled  with  so  much  honor  the  highest 
executive  department  of  the  nation,  was  the  early  friend  of 
the  Society,  for  many  years  one  of  its  Vice-Presidents,  its 
President  at  the  time  of  his  lamented  death,  and  besides  ap 
proving  its  plans  and  lending  to  it  the  influence  of  his  name, 
contributed  largely  to  its  funds,  and  remembered  it  also  in 
his  last  will  and  testament,  leaving  to  assist  in  its  operations 
when  he  should  be  no  more,  the  sum  of  $4,000 — even  more 
valuable,  it  is  hoped,  in  its  moral  effect,  than  because  of  the 
pecuniary  amount. 

A  JEFFERSON,  MONROE,  AND  CARROLL, 

may  also  be  mentioned  as  among  the  zealous  advocates  of 
colonization,  the  last  of  whom  was  elected  President  of  the 
Society  upon  the  demise  of  Judge  Washington. 


300  APPENDIX. 

THE  HON.  BUSHROD  WASHINGTON, 

the  talents  and  virtues  of  whom  are  well  known  to  have 
been  of  high  character,  and  who  having  practised  with  re 
putation  and  success  in  the  profession  of  which  he  was  so 
bright  an  ornament,  was  appointed  by  the  first  President 
Adams,  in  1797,  as  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
United  States — the  highest  judicial  tribunal  of  our  country, 
was  also  the  Society's  early  friend.  Of  this  Society,  he  be 
came  the  President  at  its  origin,  and  ever  felt  much  interest 
in  its  success.  He  gave  much  of  his  time  and  thoughts  to 
the  advancement  of  its  designs,  and  was  liberal  in  his  dona 
tions.  His  views  of  the  Society  and  its  operations,  are  ex 
hibited  in  an  impressive  manner,  in  an  address  which  he  de 
livered  at  the  first  annual  meeting  of  the  Society.  The  fol 
lowing  is  an  extract :  "  In  the  magnificent  plans  now  carry 
ing  on  for  the  improvement  and  happiness  of  mankind,  in 
many  parts  of  the  world,  we  cannot  but  discern  the  interpo 
sition  of  that  Almighty  power,  who  alone  could  inspire  and 
erown  with  success  these  great  purposes.  But  amongst 
them  all,  there  is  perhaps  none  upon  which  we  may  more 
confidently  implore  the  blessing  of  heaven,  than  that  in  which 
we  are  now  associated.  Whether  we  consider  the  grandeur 
of  the  object  and  the  wide  sphere  of  philanthropy  which  it 
embraces ;  or  whether  we  view  the  present  state  of  its  pro 
gress  under  the  auspices  of  this  Society,  and  under  the  ob 
stacles  which  might  have  been  expected  from  the  cupidity 
of  many,  we  may  discover  in  each  a  certain  pledge  that  the 
same  benignant  hand  which  has  made  these  preparatory 
arrangements,  will  crown  our  efforts  with  success.  Having, 
therefore,  these  motives  of  piety  to  consecrate  and  strengthen 
the  powerful  considerations  which  a  wise  policy  suggests, 
we  may,  I  trust,  confidently  rely  upon  the  liberal  exertions 
of  the  public  for  the  necessary  means  of  effecting  this  highly 
interesting  object."  Nor  was  he  at  all  discouraged  by  the 
Obstacles  which  it  was  necessary  to  encounter  in  the  further 


APPENDIX.  307 

prosecution  of  this  good  enterprise,  or  by  the  prospect  of  the 
greatness  of  the  work  which  he  saw  was  to  be  done.  In  a 
subsequent  address,  he  says,  "  If  much  yet  remains  to  be 
done,  we  may  nevertheless  look  back  with  satisfaction  upon 
the  work  which  has  been  accomplished ;  and  may,  I  trust, 
without  presumption,  indulge  the  hope  that  the  time  is  not 
far  distant,  when,  by  means  of  those  for  whose  happiness 
we  are  laboring,  Africa  will  participate  in  the  inestimable 
blessings  which  result  from  civilization,  a  knowledge  of  the 
arts,  and,  above  all,  of  the  pure  doctrines  of  the  Christian 
religion." 

CHIEF  JUSTICE  MARSHALL 

also  was  a  distinguished  friend  of  colonization.  The  Colo 
nization  Herald  has  said,  on  noticing  his  lamented  death, 
"  It  is  not  of  the  statesman  or  the  judge  that  we  would 
speak.  Our  humble  tribute  is  paid  to  the  early  and  stead 
fast  friend  of  African  Colonization,  the  oldest  Vice-President 
of  the  American  Colonization  Society,  and  the  patron  of  our 
own.  Surrounded  from  his  birth  by  a  slave  population,  he 
knew  its  evils,  and  as  a  patriot,  a  philanthropist,  and  a 
Christian,  was  sincerely  desirous  of  doing  all  in  his  power 
to  promote  the  welfare  of  his  country,  and  render  justice  to 
the  oppressed  slave.  His  clear  mind  saw  the  difficulties  of 
the  subject,  and  the  necessity  of  removing  by  degrees  an 
evil  which  had  grown  too  mighty  to  be  forcibly  overthrown 
without  spreading  devastation  through  the  land.  He  saw 
that  the  sudden  emancipation  of  the  slaves  of  the  southern 
States,  was  morally  impracticable,  not  only  by  the  municipal 
law  which  forbade  it,  but  by  the  still  stronger  law  of  nature, 
which  declared  it  cruel  and  unjust,  both  to  the  masters  and 
the  slaves,  to  cast  them  forth  unprotected  and  unprepared 
for  their  new  condition.  In  the  plan  of  colonization  he  saw 
the  means  of  opening  a  door  by  which  the  oppressed  may 
go  free,  with  the  prospect  of  attaining  comfort  and  happU 


308  APPENDIX. 

ness,  and  vindicating  their  equal  participation  in  the  dignity 
of  manhood.  He  was  therefore  among  the  earliest  promoters 
of  the  American  Colonization  Society,  and  to  his  latest  breath 
continued  its  steadfast  friend.  He  generally  attended  the 
annual  meetings  of  the  society ;  and,  as  the  oldest  Vice-Pre 
sident,  frequently  presided.  He  was  a  liberal  contributor  to 
its  funds,  and  always  manifested  a  lively  interest  in  its  wel 
fare.  One  of  the  latest  acts  of  his  life  was  to  contribute 
largely  toward  fitting  out  an  expedition  with  colonists  from 
Norfolk ;  and  even  in  his  last  illness,  though  forbidden  by 
his  physicians  to  speak  much,  he  showed  an  unabated  zeal 
in  the  cause.  We  mourn  his  loss.  But  we  may  still  ap 
peal  with  confidence  and  satisfaction  to  his  example,  and 
when  the  enemies  of  colonization  attempt  to  brand  our  so 
ciety  with  ignominy,  and  charge  its  friends  with  hypocrisy, 
and  cruelty,  and  oppression,  we  may  with  honest  pride 
repel  the  charge,  and  say  it  is  the  cause  which  won  the  ap 
probation  and  secured  the  prayers  and  the  services  of  JOHN 
MARSHALL." 

In  this  connexion  it  is  highly  proper  to  mention  also  and 
record  the  name  of  that  venerable  man,  who,  for  many  years, 
as  one  of  the  Vice-Presidents  of  the  Colonization  Society, 
and  in  various  ways,  contributed  much  to  the  advancement 
of  the  cause  and  the  best  interests  of  an  oppressed  race, 

THE  RT.  REV.  WILLIAM  WHITE,  D.  D. 

Within  the  short  space  of  about  one  year,  a  mournful 
blank  was  left  in  the  list  of  the  officers  of  the  Parent  So 
ciety,  by  the  translation  of  its  illustrious  President,  JAMES 
MADISON,  and  from  among  its  Vice-Presidents,  the  late 
Chief  Justice  of  the  United  States,  JOHN  MARSHALL,  and 
last,  the  venerable  BISHOP  WHITE, 


noraen  clarum  et  vencrabile!' 


These  distinguished  names  were  also  stricken  by  the  han4 


APPENDIX.  309 

of  death  from  the  list  of  *  Patrons  of  the  Young  Men's  Colo 
nization  Society  of  Pennsylvania.'  It  was  not  many  months 
before  his  death,  that  the  lamented  Bishop,  having  braved, 
at  the  age  of  fourscore  and  eight,  the  inclemency  of  a  stormy, 
snowy  night,  was  seen  presiding  at  the  anniversary  of  a  Co 
lonization  Society. 

ROBERT  RALSTON 

of  Philadelphia,  was  another  Vice-President  of  the  Parent 
Society,  and  distinguished  friend  of  Africa,  whose  name  was 
greatly  respected,  and  who  closed  his  earthly  pilgrimage, 
honored  and  lamented,  in  the  ripeness  of  a  good  old  age. 

Another  early  friend  of  colonization,  was 

ELIAS  BOUDINOT  CALDWELL,  ESQ. 

of  Washington,  first  Secretary  of  the  Society,  present  at  its 
organization,  and  justly  classed  with  Finley,  Mills,  and  Gen. 
Mercer,  as  one  of  the  most  efficient  projectors  and  promoters 
of  the  institution.  His  Christian  principles  and  works  are 
his  best  eulogium.  The  African  Repository  contains  this 
notice  of  his  death  and  tribute  to  his  memory: — "  Having 
taken  a  very  distinguished  part  in  the  formation  of  the  So 
ciety,  having  carefully  investigated  its  claims,  and  prepared 
himself  for  the  obstacles  which  he  saw  to  be  inevitable  in  its 
progress,  and  especially  having  committed  the  cause  to  God, 
he  was  not  disconcerted  by  misfortunes,  nor  discouraged  by 
the  calamities  of  its  earliest  history.  He  recollected  that  the 
events  connected  with  the  infancy  of  almost  all  colonies  are 
analogous  to  those  which  have  occurred  in  our  own,  and  that 
they  prove  rather  that  experience  is  requisite  to  success,  than 
that  success  is  impossible.  To  no  individual  in  the  country 
was  the  colony  more  indebted  for  aid  and  success  during  the 
months  of  its  greatest  peril  and  distress  ;  and  while  his 
strength  enabled  him  to  act,  none  was  more  earnest  in  exer 
tions  for  its  prosperity.  Often  indeed  did  his  zeal  for  others 


310  APPENDIX. 

render  him  forgetful  of  himself,  and  his  feeble  frame  feel  the 
debilitating  effects  of  excessive  mental  exertion.  Near  the 
conclusion  of  his  life,  the  ordinary  affairs  of  the  world  ap 
peared  to  lose  their  power  to  affect  him,  and  his  faith  fixed 
itself  upon  the  things  which  are  unseen  and  eternal.  Per 
fection  with  God  was  the  object  of  his  supreme  desire  and 
highest  hope.  His  anticipations  of  immortality,  however, 
could  not  diminish  his  affection  for  the  cause  of  humanity 
and  of  God  on  earth.  A  few  days  before  his  death,  he  ad 
dressed  to  a  friend  this  note,  "  THE  LORD  HATH  GIVEN  ME 

THE  DESIRE  OF  MY  HEART  RESPECTING  AFRICA. FAREWELL." 

Blessed  is  his  memory,  and  great  his  reward." 

The  Board,  desirous  to  perpetuate  in  Africa  the  name  of 
this  benefactor  of  Liberia,  directed  that  the  name  of  CALD- 
WELL  be  given  to  the  first  settlement  or  town  established  by 
the  colony. 

WILLIAM  HENRY  FITZHUGH. 

of  Virginia,  was  a  warm  and  early  friend  of  the  Liberia  co 
lony,  and  for  several  successive  years  one  of  the  Vice-Presi- 
dents  of  the  American  Colonization  Society,  the  value  and 
importance  of  which  institution  he  ably  set  forth  in  a  series 
of  essays  under  the  signature  of  Opimus.  Descended  from 
two  of  the  most  ancient  and  respectable  families  of  Virginia, 
and  by  education,  talents,  fortune,  and  character,  peculiarly 
fitted  for  eminent  usefulness,  his  death  was  lamented  as  a 
public  loss ;  and  in  the  general  grief  which  it  occasioned  the 
American  Colonization  Society  was  called  to  bear  a  full 
share.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  Mr.  Fitzhugh  was  em 
ployed  in  plans  for  bettering  the  moral  condition  of  his 
slaves,  with  the  hope  of  preparing  them  for  a  different 
sphere  of  action.  His  designs  towards  them  are  sufficiently 
indicated  by  his  will,  enjoining  their  freedom  under  certain 
conditions. 

One  who  was  intimately  acquainted  with  him  has  said, 


APPENDIX.  311 

"  Mr.  Fitzhugh  was  no  ordinary  man.  His  highly  gifted 
and  well-balanced  mind,  improved  and  polished  by  the  best 
education,  by  self-discipline,  and  by  constant  intercourse  with 
cultivated  and  refined  society,  controlled  in  its  operations  by 
sentiments  just,  honorable,  magnanimous,  rendered  him  a 
model  of  the  virtues  most  admired  in  private  and  in  public 
life.  Hundreds,  perhaps  thousands,  who  have  shared  in  the 
hospitalities  of  Ravensworth  will  bear  testimony  to  the  no 
bleness  of  his  disposition,  the  urbanity  of  his  manners,  and 
to  those  attractive  powers  of  conversation  which  drew  around 
him,  as  by  magic,  a  numerous  circle  of  friends,  who  found 
that  to  know  was  to  love  him ;  and  that  every  successive  in 
terview  increased  the  strength  of  their  attachment.  As  a 
member  of  the  Virginia  House  of  Delegates,  of  the  Senate, 
and  of  the  Convention,  he  filled  the  high  expectation  of  his 
friends,  and  stood  acknowledged  by  all  an  able,  honorable, 
and  eloquent  statesman.  While  the  reputation  of  Virginia 
was  dear  to  his  heart,  while  he  cherished  towards  her  charac 
ter  and  her  interest,  even  a  filial  affection,  he  looked  abroad 
upon  the  Union  with  patriotic  pride,  and  rejoiced  in  the  ho 
nors  and  prospects  of  this  glorious  national  republic.  Nor 
were  his  desires  for  the  improvement  of  mankind  confined 
within  the  limits  of  his  country.  He  was  a  philanthropist ; 
and  felt  that  human  beings,  whatever  may  be  their  country, 
circumstances,  or  complexion,  were  related  to  him  by  the 
ties  of  a  common  nature,  and  must  not  be  excluded  from  his 
regards.  *  *  His  example  survives  him.  And  while  friend 
ship  and  affection  shed  their  tears  upon  his  grave ;  while 
honor,  genius,  patriotism,  and  philanthropy  gather  around  it 
in  silent  grief,  may  his  example,  like  an  oracle  from  the 
abodes  of  the  departed,  give  confidence  and  energy  to  virtue, 
and  perpetuate  its  influence  to  relieve  the  miseries,  and  to 
improve  and  exalt  the  character  of  mankind." 

We  must  notice  another  who  greatly  served  the  interests 
of  colonization  in  our  own  country, 


312  APPENDIX. 

THOMAS  SMITH  GRIMKE, 

of  Charleston,  S.  C.  By  the  death  of  this  distinguished 
Christian,  scholar  and  civilian,  in  1834,  the  Colonization  So 
ciety  was  deprived  of  one  of  its  Vice-Presidents  and  most 
efficient  members,  and  the  cause  of  Africa  of  a  liberal  and 
devoted  friend.  It  has  been  well  said  of  Mr.  Grimke  that 
he  was  no  ordinary  man,  either  in  his  intellectual  or  moral 
endowments.  In  the  legal  profession  pre-eminent,  a  states 
man  of  enlarged  views  and  purity  of  motive,  his  patriotism 
a  part  of  his  piety,  always  aiming  at  the  approbation  of 
heaven,  he  was  qualified  for  distinguished  usefulness.  His 
memory  is  blessed — his  example  lives. 


Nor  should  we  pass  by  unnoticed,  the  names  of  others, 
besides  the  sainted  ASHMUN  and  MILLS,  who  left  their  native 
land,  aspiring  to  serve  this  good  cause  more  effectually  in 
Africa.  We  may  mention,  first, 

THE  REV.  LOTT  CAREY. 

Among  the  names  of  those  who  have  devoted  themselves 
to  the  great  work  of  founding  a  colony  in  Liberia,  and  who 
shared  the  cares  and  toils  and  privations  consequent  upon 
the  first  attempt,  stands  conspicuous  that  of  the  Rev.  Lott 
Carey,  for  some  time  the  Vice-agent  of  the  colony.  Mr. 
Carey,  as  appears  by  an  obituary  of  him  in  the  5th  volume 
of  the  Repository,  from  which  this  tribute  is  chiefly  quoted, 
was  born  a  slave,  near  Richmond,  Virginia.  He  was  early 
hired  out  as  a  common  laborer  in  that  city,  where,  for  some 
years,  he  remained,  entirely  regardless  of  religion,  and  much 
addicted  to  profane  and  vicious  habits.  Convinced  of  the 
misery  of  a  sinful  state,  and  brought  to  true  repentance  be 
fore  God,  in  1807  he  professed  faith  in  the  Saviour,  and  be- 


APPENDIX,  313 

came  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  His  father  was  a 
pious  and  much  respected  member  of  the  same  church,  and 
his  mother  died  giving  evidence  that  she  had  relied  for  sal 
vation  upon  the  Son  of  God.  He  was  their  only  child,  and 
though  he  had  no  early  instruction  from  books,  the  admoni 
tions  and  prayers  of  his  illiterate  parents,  it  is  supposed, 
laid  the  foundation  for  his  future  usefulness.  "  A  strong 
desire  to  be  able  to  read  was  excited  in  his  mind  by  a  ser 
mon  to  which  he  attended  soon  after  his  conversion,  and 
which  related  to  our  Lord's  interview  with  Nicodemus  ; 
and  having  obtained  a  Testament  he  commenced  reading  his 
letters,  by  trying  to  read  the  chapter  in  which  this  interview 
is  recorded.  He  received  some  instruction,  though  he  never 
attended  a  regular  school.  Such,  however,  was  his  diligence 
and  perseverance  that  he  overcame  all  obstacles,  and  acquir 
ed  not  only  the  art  of  reading,  but  of  writing  also.  Shortly 
after  the  death  of  his  first  wife  in  1813,  he  ransomed  him 
self  and  two  children  for  $850,  a  sum  which  he  had  obtained 
by  his  singular  ability  and  fidelity  in  managing  the  concerns 
of  a  tobacco  warehouse.  Of  the  real  value  of  his  services 
there,  it  has  been  remarked,  no  one  but  a  dealer  in  tobacco 
can  form  an  idea.  Notwithstanding  the  hundreds  of  hogs 
heads  that  were  committed  to  his  charge,  he  could  produce 
any  one  the  instant  it  was  called  for ;  and  the  shipments 
were  made  with  promptness  and  correctness,  such  as  no  per 
son,  white  or  black,  has  equalled  in  the  same  situation.  It 
is  said  that  while  employed  at  the  warehouse,  he  often  de 
voted  his  leisure  time  to  reading,  and  that  a  gentleman  on 
one  occasion  taking  up  a  book  which  he  had  left  for  a  few 
moments,  found  it  to  be  *  Smith's  Wealth  of  Nations.'  As 
early  as  the  year  1815,  he  began  to  feel  a  special  interest  in 
the  cause  of  African  Missions,  and  contributed  probably  more 
than  any  other  person  in  giving  origin  and  character  to  the 
African  Missionary  Society  established  during  that  year  in 
Richmond,  and  which,  for  many  years  collected  and  appro- 

cc 


314  APPENDIX. 

priated  annually  to  the  cause  of  Christianity  in  Africa,  from 
one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  His  bene 
volence  was  practical ;  and  whenever  and  wherever  good 
objects  were  to  be  effected,  he  was  ready  to  lend  his  aid. 
He  became  a  preacher  several  years  before  he  left  this  coun 
try,  and  generally  engaged  in  this  service  every  Sabbath 
among  the  colored  people  on  plantations  a  few  miles  from 
Richmond.  A  correspondent,  from  whom  we  have  already 
quoted,  observes,  *  In  preaching,  notwithstanding  his  gram 
matical  inaccuracies,  he  was  often  truly  eloquent.  He  had 
derived  almost  nothing  from  the  schools,  and  his  manner 
was,  of  course  unpolished,  but  his  ideas  would  sometimes 
burst  upon  you  in  their  native  solemnity,  and  awaken  deeper 
feelings  than  the  most  polished  but  less  original  and  inarti 
ficial  discourse.'  A  distinguished  minister  of  the  Presby 
terian  church  said  to  the  writer,  *  A  sermon  which  I  heard 
from  Mr.  Carey,  shortly  before  he  sailed  for  Africa,  was  the 
best  extemporaneous  sermon  I  ever  heard.  It  contained 
more  original  and  impressive  thoughts,  some  of  which  are 
distinct  in  my  memory,  and  never  can  be  forgotten.' 

"  Mr.  Carey  was  among  the  earliest  emigrants  to  Africa. 
For  some  time  before  his  departure  he  had  sustained  the 
office  of  Pastor  of  a  Baptist  Church  of  colored  persons  in 
Richmond,  embracing  nearly  eight  hundred  members,  re 
ceived  from  it  a  liberal  support,  and  enjoyed  its  confidence 
and  affection.  When  an  intelligent  minister  of  the  same 
church  inquired  why  he  could  determine  to  quit  a  station  of 
so  much  comfort  and  usefulness,  to  encounter  the  dangers 
of  an  African  climate,  and  hazard  every  thing  to  plant  a 
colony  on  a  distant  heathen  shore  ?  his  reply  was  to  this 
effect,  '  I  am  an  African,  and  in  this  country,  however  meri 
torious  my  conduct  and  respectable  my  character,  I  cannot 
receive  the  credit  due  to  either.  I  wish  to  go  to  a  country 
where  I  shall  be  estimated  by  my  merits,  not  by  my  com 
plexion  ;  and  I  feel  bound  to  labor  for  my  suffering  race,' 


APPENDIX.  315 

He  seemed  to  have  imbibed  the  sentiment  of  Paul,  and  to 
have  great  heaviness  and  continual  sorrow  in  his  heart  for 
his  brethren,  his  kinsmen  according  to  the  flesh.  At  the 
close  of  his  farewell  sermon  in  the  First  Baptist  Meeting 
house  in  Richmond,  he  remarked  in  substance  as  follows  : — 
4 1  am  about  to  leave  you,  and  expect  to  see  your  faces  no 
more.  I  long  to  preach  to  the  poor  Africans  the  way  of  life 
and  salvation.  I  don't  know  what  may  befall  me,  whether 
I  may  find  a  grave  in  the  ocean  or  among  the  savage  men, 
or  more  savage  wild  beasts  on  the  coast  of  Africa ;  nor  am 
I  anxious  what  may  become  of  me.  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  go ; 
and  I  very  much  fear  that  many  of  those  who  preach  the 
gospel  in  this  country,  will  blush  when  the  Saviour  calls 
them  to  give  an  account  of  their  labors  in  his  cause,  and  tells 
them,  *  I  commanded  you  to  go  into  all  the  world,  and  preach 
the  gospel  to  every  creature ;'  (and  with  the  most  forcible 
emphasis  he  exclaimed)  the  Saviour  may  ask,  Where  have 
you  been  ?  what  have  you  been  doing  ?  Have  you  endeavor 
ed  to  the  utmost  of  your  ability  to  fulfil  the  commands  I 
gave  you,  or  have  you  sought  your  own  gratification  and 
your  own  ease  regardless  of  my  commands  ?' 

"  On  his  arrival  in  Africa  he  saw  before  him  a  wide  and 
interesting  field,  demanding  various  and  energetic  talents, 
and  the  most  devoted  piety.  His  intellectual  ability,  firm 
ness  of  purpose,  unbending  integrity,  correct  judgment,  and 
disinterested  benevolence,  soon  placed  him  in  a  conspicuous 
station,  and  gave  him  wide  and  commanding  influence. 
Though  naturally  diffident  and  retiring,  his  worth  was  too 
evident  to  allow  of  his  continuing  in  obscurity.  It  is  well 
known  that  great  difficulties  were  encountered  in  founding  a 
settlement  at  Cape  Montserado.  So  appalling  were  the  cir 
cumstances  of  the  first  settlers,  that  soon  after  they  had  taken 
possession  of  the  cape  it  was  proposed  that  they  should  re 
move  to  Sierra  Leone.  The  resolution  of  Mr.  Carey  was 
aot  to  be  shaken ;  he  determined  to  stay,  and  his  decision 


316  APPENDIX. 

had  great  effect  in  persuading  others  to  imitate  his  example. 
During  the  war  with  the  native  tribes,  in  November  and  De 
cember,  1822,  he  proved  to  be  one  of  the  bravest  of  men, 
and  lent  his  well-directed  and  vigorous  support  to  the  mea 
sures  of  Mr.  Ashmun  during  that  memorable  defence  of  the 
colony.  It  was  to  him  that  Mr.  Ashmun  was  principally 
indebted  for  assistance  in  rallying  the  broken  forces  of  the 
colony  at  a  moment  when  fifteen  hundred  of  the  exasperated 
natives  were  rushing  on 'to  exterminate  the  settlement.  In 
one  of  his  letters  he  compares  the  little  exposed  company  on 
Cape  Montserado  at  that  time,  to  the  Jews,  who,  in  rebuild 
ing  their  city,  '  grasped  a  weapon  in  one  hand,  while  they 
labored  with  the  other,'  but  adds. emphatically,  *  there  never 
has  been  an  hour  or  a  minute,  no,  not  even  when  the  balls 
were  flying  around  my  head,  when  I  could  wish  myself 
again  in  America.'  At  this  early  period  of  the  colony  the 
emigrants  were  peculiarly  exposed  ;  the  want  of  adequate 
medical  attentions,  and  the  scantiness  of  their  supplies,  sub 
jected  them  to  severe  and  complicated  sufferings.  To  re 
lieve,  if  possible,  these  sufferings,  Mr.  Carey  availed  himself 
of  all  information  in  his  power,  concerning  the  diseases  of 
the  climate,  made  liberal  sacrifices  of  his  property  to  assist 
the  poor  and  distressed,  and  devoted  his  time  almost  exclu 
sively  to  the  destitute,  the  sick,  and  the  afflicted.  He  ap 
peared  to  realize  the  greatness  of  the  work  in  which  he  had 
engaged,  and  to  be  animated  by  a  noble  spirit  of  zeal  and  re 
solution  in  the  cause  of  his  afflicted  and  perishing  brethren. 
His  services  as  physician  were  invaluable,  and  were  for  a 
long  time  rendered  without  hope  of  reward. 

"  He  was  elected  in  September,  1826,  to  the  Vice-agency 
of  the  colony,  and  discharged  the  duties  of  that  important 
office  until  his  death.  In  his  good  sense,  moral  worth,  pub 
lic  spirit,  courage,  resolution,  and  decision,  the  colonial 
agent  had  perfect  confidence.  He  knew  that  in"  times  of 
difficulty  or  danger,  reliance  might  be  placed  upon  the 


APPENDIX.  317 

energy  and  efficiency  of  Mr.  Carey.  When  compelled  in 
the  early  part  of  1828  to  leave  the  colony,  Mr.  Ashmun 
committed  the  administration  of  the  colonial  affairs  into  his 
hands.  But  amid  his  multiplied  cares  and  efforts  for  the  co 
lony  he  never  forgot  or  neglected  to  promote  the  objects  of 
the  African  Missionary  Society,  for  which  he  had  long 
cherished  the  strongest  attachment.  His  great  object  in 
emigrating  to  Africa  was  to  extend  the  power  and  blessings 
of  the  Christian  religion.  Before  his  departure  from  Rich 
mond,  a  little  church  of  about  half  a  dozen  members  was 
formed  by  himself  and  those  who  were  to  accompany  him. 
He  became  the  pastor  of  this  church  in  Africa,  and  saw  its 
numbers  greatly  increased.  Most  earnestly  did  he  seek  ac 
cess  to  the  native  tribes,  and  endeavor  to  instruct  them  in 
the  doctrines  and  duties  of  that  religion  which  in  his  own 
case  had  proved  so  powerful  to  purify,  exalt,  and  save.  In 
one  or  two  instances  of  hopeful  conversion  from  heathenism, 
he  greatly  rejoiced ;  and  many  of  his  latest  and  most  anxious 
thoughts  were  directed  to  the  establishment  of  native  schools 
in  the  interior.  One  such  school,  distant  seventy  miles  from 
Monrovia,  and  of  great  promise,  was  established  through  his 
agency  about  a  year  before  his  death,  and  patronized  and 
superintended  by  him  until  that  mournful  event.  On  this 
subject,  by  his  many  valuable  communications  to  the  Mis 
sionary  Board,  *  he  being  dead  yet  speaketh'  in  language 
which  must  affect  the  heart  of  every  true  Christian  disciple. 
"  For  six  months  after  the  first  departure  of  Mr.  Ashmun 
from  the  colony,  Mr.  Carey  stood  at  its  head,  and  conducted 
himself  with  such  energy  and  wisdom  as  to  do  honor  to  his 
previous  reputation,  and  fix  the  seal  upon  his  enviable  fame. 
On  his  death-bed,  Mr.  Ashmun  urged  that  Mr.  Carey  should 
be  permanently  appointed  to  conduct  the  affairs  of  the  colo 
ny,  expressi  ig  his  perfect  confidence  in  his  integrity  and 
ability  for  that  great  work.  The  tidings  of  Mr.  Ashmun's 
death  had  not  reached  the  colony  until  after  the  decease  of 

c  c  2 


318  APPENDIX. 

Mr.  Carey.  How  unexpected,  how  interesting,  how  affect 
ing  the  meeting  of  these  two  individuals,  (so  long  united  in 
Christian  fellowship,  in  benevolent  and  arduous  labors,)  in 
the  world  of  glory  and  immortality  ! 

"  It  has  been  well  said  of  Mr.  Carey,  that « he  was  one  of 
nature's  noblemen ;'  and  had  he  possessed  the  advantages  of 
education,  few  men  of  his  age  would  have  excelled  him  in 
knowledge  or  genius.  The  features  and  complexion  of  Mr. 
Carey  were  altogether  African.  He  was  diffident,  and 
showed  no  disposition  to  push  himself  into  notice.  His 
words  were  few,  simple,  direct  and  appropriate.  His  con 
versation  indicated  rapidity  and  clearness  of  thought,  and  an 
ability  to  comprehend  the  great  and  variously-related  princi 
ples  of  religion  and  government.  To  found  a  Christian  co 
lony  which  might  prove  a  blessed  asylum  to  his  degraded 
brethren  in  America  and  enlighten  and  regenerate  Africa, 
was,  in  his  view,  an  object  with  which  no  temporal  good, 
not  even  life,  could  be  compared.  The  strongest  sympathies 
of  his  nature  were  excited  in  behalf  of  his  unfortunate  people, 
and  the  divine  promise  cheered  and  encouraged  him  in  his 
labors  for  their  improvement  and  salvation.  A  main  pillar 
in  the  society  and  church  of  Liberia,  the  memorial  of  his 
worth  shall  never  perish.  It  shall  stand  in  clearer  light 
when  every  chain  is  broken,  and  Christianity  shall  have  as 
sumed  her  sway  over  the  millions  of  Africa." 

The  following  lines  "  to  the  memory"  of  Mr.  Carey,  ap 
peared  in  the  African  Repository  soon  after  his  death,  from 
an  anonymous  correspondent,  with  the  signature  of  V. — 

'•  Shall  none  record  the  honor'd  name 

Of  Afric's  favor'd  son, 
Or  twine  the  deathless  wreath  of  fame 

For  him  whose  race  is  run  ? 
While  angels  crown  the  saint  above, 
Has  earth  no  voice  to  own  her  love  ? 


APPENDIX.  319 

Where'er  the  Patriot  rests  his  head 

A  stately  pile  appears  ; 
While  warrior's  sleep  on  glory's  bed, 

Beneath  a  nation's  tears; 
And  shall  no  tribute  rise  to  thee, 
Thou  fearless  friend  of  liberty? 

Yes,  Afric's  sunny  skies  have  gleara'd 

On  many  a  scene  sublime  ; 
But  more  than  hope  has  ever  dream'd 

Is  destin'd  for  that  clime. 
The  chain  shall  burst,  the  slave  be  free, 
And  millions  bless  thy  memory. 

Thy  meed  shall  be  a  nation's  love ! 

Thy  praise,  the  freeman's  song ! 
And  in  thy  star-wreath'd  home  above 

Thou  may'st  the  theme  prolong ; 
For  hymns  of  praise  from  Afric's  plains 
Shall  mingle  with  seraphic  strains." 

DR.  RICHARD  RANDALL, 

who  generously  proffered  his  services  in  the  cause  of  colo 
nization  and  of  Africa,  and  to  whom  was  therefore  entrusted 
the  honorable  and  responsible  station  made  vacant  by  the 
decease  of  the  lamented  Ashmun,  was  born  at  Annapolis, 
Md.  ;  received  his  education  at  St.  John's  College,  and  took 
his  degree  as  Doctor  of  Medicine  in  Philadelphia.  From  a 
sphere  of  usefulness  in  his  profession  in  Washington  City, 
he  was  called  to  the  Professorship  of  Chemistry  in  the  Me 
dical  Department  of  Columbia  College.  He  was  also  an 
able  and  efficient  member  of  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the 
Colonization  Society.  But  his  expansive  benevolence  and 
the  warm  interest  which  he  took  in  the  welfare  of  the 
Liberia  colony,  would  not  allow  of  his  enjoying  longer  the 
flattering  prospects  which  were  before  him  in  America.  An 
intimate  friend  of  Dr.  Randall  has  said,  "  The  magnitude  of 
the  object  of  the  Colonization  Society,  the  attained  success, 
the  illimitable  prospects  for  usefulness  which  the  scheme 
displayed,  soon  engaged  the  feelings  of  his  generous  and 


320  APPENDIX. 

benevolent  mind.  *  *  He  was  a  generous,  kind,  noble- 
hearted  man."  He  once  thought  unfavorably  of  the  So 
ciety,  the  colony,  and  its  objects ;  but  "  his  mind  was  en 
lightened,"  and  he  resolved  to  devote  his  best  energies  to 
the  glorious  cause.  As  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Mana 
gers  at  Washington,  he  was  discriminating,  judicious,  re 
solute,  and  benevolent,  and  became  so  intimately  acquainted 
with  all  that  relates  to  the  object  of  the  cause,  that  great 
respect  was  due  to  his  decisions.  When  Ashmun  died,  Dr. 
Randall  was  deeply  affected,  fully  sensible  of  the  shock 
which  the  institution  had  sustained.  "  The  workings  of 
his  generous  mind"  could  not  long  be  concealed.  He  hesi 
tated ;  but  "his  hesitation  was  the  result  of  a  diffidence  of 
his  own  powers.  Admonished  of  his  danger,  and  implored 
by  his  friends  to  remain  in  the  flattering  career  which  he 
had  commenced,"  his  reply  was  decided,  that  "  in  doing  his 
duty  he  disregarded  his  life — that  with  his  feelings  and  pur 
pose,  he  could  readily  exchange  the  endearing  intercourse 
of  relations,  the  alluring  pleasures  of  refined  society,  the  pro 
mised  success  of  professional  exertion,  for  the  humble  duty 
of  promoting  the  happiness  of  the  poor  negroes  in  Africa, 
and  be  HAPPY  IN  so  DOING." 

DR.  JOHN  WALLACE  ANDERSON, 

of  Maryland,  graduate  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in 
1823,  after  being  settled  as  a  practising  physician,  resolved 
that  it  was  his  duty  to  devote  himself  to  the  cause  of  African 
colonization,  by  serving,  in  his  professional  character,  among 
the  colonists  of  Liberia.  He  accordingly  left  behind  him 
the  attractions  of  a  delightful  home,  and  with  that  sentiment 
deep  in  his  heart,  which,  when  leaving  this  world,  he  di 
rected  should  be  inscribed  on  his  tombstone,  "Jesus,  for 
thee  I  live,  for  thee  I  die,"  he  committed  himself  to  the  di 
rection  of  a  wise  and  good  Providence,  and  planted  himself 
on  the  shores  of  Liberia.  Useful  in  his  profession,  and  dis- 


APPENDIX.  321 

tinguished  by  unremitting  efforts  to  promote  the  best  good 
of  the  infant  colony,  he  was  called  to  the  agency  of  the 
colony  during  the  absence  of  Dr.  Mechlin.  His  efforts  laid 
him  upon  the  bed  of  sickness  ;  there,  although  he  could  no 
more  serve  the  colony  as  he  had  been  wont  to  do,  his  re 
maining  breath  was  spent  in  fervent  prayer  for  its  success, 
until,  in  a  few  days  from  his  attack,  with  entire  resignation 
to  the  Divine  will,  and  with  unshaken  and  triumphant  con 
fidence  in  the  glorious  Saviour,  he  was  called  to  pass  the 
valley  and  shadow  of  death.  One  who  was  with  him  when 
he  died,  has  remarked,  "  Well  might  I  have  said,  when  Dr. 
Anderson  breathed  his  last,  Come  and  see  how  a  Chris 
tian  can  die."  He  is  said  to  have  evidenced  "  a  remarkable 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  God  and  man,"  and  to  have  been 
possessed  of  "  a  spirit  so  mild,  retiring,  disinterested  and 
unwavering,  as  at  once  to  win  the  affections  and  deeply  im 
press  the  heart"  of  all  who  became  acquainted  with  him. 

THE  REV.  MELVILLE  B.  Cox 

is  another,  whose  name  will  go  down  to  many  generations 
as  one  of  Africa's  early  and  faithful  friends.  Mr.  Cox  went 
out  to  Liberia  under  the  direction  of  the  Methodist  Mission 
ary  Society,  "  to  promote  the  cause  of  Christianity  in  Li 
beria,  and  among  the  African  tribes  in  its  vicinity."  He  is 
represented  as  a  minister  of  great  sincerity  and  zeal  in  the 
cause  of  Christ,  and  of  distinguished  abilities.  In  reference 
to  his  mission,  he  said  before  his  departure,  "  I  will  have 
nothing  to  do  with  worldly  gain  in  any  form.  If  God  per 
mits  me  to  go,  it  shall  be  to  preach  the  gospel."  Devoted 
to  this  work  of  piety  and  mercy  himself,  he  was  greatly 
anxious  to  enlist  the  feelings  of  others.  "  I  would,"  said 
he,  "  that  our  colored  friends  felt  on  this  subject  as  they 
should.  *  *  When  was  there  ever  such  a  door  opened  ? 
*  *  We  cannot  but  feel.  Africa  calls  us  with  millions  of 
voices.  She  pleads  in  the  strong  wailings  of  suffering  hu- 


322  APPENDIX. 

manity.  She  speaks  in  the  accents  of  dying  spirits  « perish 
ing  for  lack  of  knowledge.'  Will  not  her  sons  in  America 
hear  ?  O  that  God  would  move  their  hearts  to  this  work. 
Money  and  means  are  at  their  command — public  sympathy 
is  deeply  enlisted  in  their  favor.  Will  they  still  refuse  ? 
God  pity  them.  And  may  he  pity  those  who  have  sown 
the  seeds  of  such  deep-rooted  prejudices  against  Liberia; 
and  may  he  pity  us  who  have  so  long  enslaved  intellect  as 
to  have  rendered  it  almost  entirely  insensible  to  moral  and 
religious  enterprise."  Some  friend  of  humanity,  who  also 
knew  how  to  appreciate  the  worth  of  this  excellent  mis 
sionary  now  fallen  a  martyr  to  the  interests  of  Africa,  has 
embalmed  his  memory  in  these  lines,  entitled  "  the  Grave 
of  Cox." 


"  From  Niger's  dubious  billow, 

From  Gambia's  silver  wave, 
Where  rests,  on  death's  cold  pillow, 

The  tenant  of  the  grave, 
We  hear  a  voice  of  weeping, 

Like  low-toned  lutes  at  night, 
In  plaintive  echoes  sweeping 

Up  Mesurado's  height. 

The  palm-tree  o'er  him  waving, 

The  grass  above  his  head, 
The  stream  his  clay-couch  laving, 

All— all  proclaim  him  dead  ; 
Dead  !  but  alive  in  glory, 

A  conqueror  at  rest ; 
Embalmed  in  sacred  story, 

And  crowned  amidst  the  blest. 

A  martyr's  grave  encloses 

His  wearied  frame  at  last, 
Perfum'd  with  heaven's  sweet  roses, 

On  his  dear  bosom  cast  ; 
And  Afric's  sons  deploring 

Their  champion  laid  low, 
Like  many  waters  roaring, 

Unbosom  all  their  wo. 


APPENDIX.  323 


The  moon's  lone  chain  of  mountains, 

The  plain  where  Carthage  stood, 
Jugurtha's  ancient  fountains, 

And  Teembo's  palmy  wood, 
Are  wild  with  notes  of  sorrow, 

Above  their  sainted  friend, 
To  whom  there  comes  no  morrow, 

But  glory  without  end." 


It  has  been  suggested  by  a  judicious  friend,  that  "  in  form 
ing  an  opinion  upon  a  subject  of  such  vast  importance  to  the 
best  interests  of  our  country  and  the  very  existence  of  the 
Union,  as  the  negro  question,  it  is  well  to  look  at  the  array 
of  the  great  and  the  good,  who  have  not  only  given  the 
weight  of  their  names,  but  have  hallowed  with  their  latest 
blessing  the  great  cause  they  never  ceased  to  love.  The 
conscript  fathers  of  the  revolution,  who  laid  the  foundation 
of  their  country's  greatness,  who  endured  all  the  perils  of  the 
times  that  tried  men's  souls,  and  who  showed  that  they 
knew  how  to  appreciate  the  value  of  our  happy  union  by 
mutual  concession  and  a  spirit  of  conciliation  without  which 
the  blessings  sought  could  not  be  secured  to  their  posterity — 
these,  almost  to  a  man,  were  ardent  colonizationists." 

It  is  also  worthy  of  remark  that  those  who  have  gone  forth 
as  pioneers  in  the  noble  cause  of  colonization,  have  embraced 
in  their  number  some  of  the  choicest  spirits  of  the  age.  The 
leaders  in  this  enterprise  of  humanity,  patriotism,  and  bene 
volence,  have  not  been  men  of  an  inferior  order  of  intellect, 
nor  mere  visionaries  ;  but  of  first  rate  minds,  of  enlarged 
views,  sound  judgment,  great  discretion,  humble  and  unwa 
vering  piety,  persevering  zeal,  entire  devotion  to  the  cause 
of  God  and  the  best  interests  of  man.  If  a  different  opinion 
has  prevailed,  as  it  may,  in  some  instances,  it  must  be  through 
want  of  proper  information,  and  proper  pains  to  obtain  it.  It 
is  a  remarkable  fact  that  they  who  have  been  most  efficient 
in  this  good  work,  have  so  generally  been  those  possessed 


324  APPENDIX. 

of  pre-eminent  qualifications — men  who  would  have  shone 
bright  and  been  greatly  honored  remaining  in  their  own  na 
tive  land,  but  whose  piety  and  benevolence,  manifest  to  all, 
led  them  to  forego  the  flattering  prospects  before  them  here, 
that  they  might  serve  God  and  their  generation  on  the  shores 
of  Africa. 

Nor  should  this  remark  be  wholly  confined  to  those  who 
as  agents,  sub-agents,  physicians,  or  ministers  of  the  gospel 
and  missionaries  of  the  cross,  have  gone  forth  in  this  good 
work.  Among  the  colonists  generally,  has  been  an  honor 
able  share  of  all  that  is  ennobling  to  humanity.  As  speci 
mens  of  the  views  and  feelings  and  qualifications  of  many, 
we  may  find  much  that  is  honorable  in  their  own  deeds,  and 
in  the  testimony  of  the  disinterested.  Take,  as  a  specimen 
of  the  noble  spirit  and  good  judgment  of  not  a  few,  the  fol 
lowing  extract  of  a  letter  from  a  free  man  of  color,  then  be 
longing  in  Georgia,  who  sought  an  asylum  in  Africa  in  1831. 
It  need  not  be  said  after  reading  the  extract,  that  he  was 
highly  esteemed  for  his  intelligence  and  piety  where  he  then 
lived.  He  writes  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Colonization  So 
ciety  : 

"  I  have  always  viewed  the  principle  on  which  the  So 
ciety  was  grounded,  as  one  of  much  policy,  though  I  saw  it 
was  aided  by  a  great  deal  of  benevolence.  And  when  view 
ing  my  situation,  with  thousands  of  my  colored  brethren  in 
the  United  States,  who  are  in  a  similar  situation,  I  have  often 
wondered  what  prevented  us  from  rising  and  with  one  voice, 
saying,  we  will  accept  the  offer  made  us  at  the  risk  of  sacri 
ficing  all  the  comforts  that  our  present  situation  can  afford 
us.  I  have  often  almost  come  to  the  conclusion  that  I  would 
make  the  sacrifice,  and  have  only  been  prevented  by  the  un 
favorable  accounts  of  the  climate.  I  have  always  heretofore, 
viewed  it  as  a  matter  of  temporal  interest,  but  now  I  view  it 
spiritually.  According  to  the  accounts  from  Liberia,  it  wants 
help,  and  such  as  I  trust  I  could  give,  though  ever  so  little. 


APPENDIX.  325 

I  understand  the  branches  of  a  wheelwright,  and  blacksmith, 
and  carpenter ;  I  also  have  good  ideas  of  machinery  and  other 
branches.  I  trust  also,  were  I  to  go  there,  I  would  add  one 
tathe  number  of  advocates  for  religion.  I  will  thank  you  to 
inform  me  what  things  I  should  take  for  the  comfort  of  my 
self  and  family.  I  don't  expect  to  go  at  the  expense  of  the 
Society,  and  therefore  hope  to  be  allowed  to  take  something 
more  than  those  who  do  not  defray  their  own  expenses." 


On  looking  over  the  pages  that  have  preceded,  the  remem 
brance  of  other  eminent  friends  of  colonization  among  our 
countrymen  who  have  also  been  distinguished  by  their  sta 
tion,  talents,  acquirements,  and  virtue,  admonishes  us  of 
many  omissions  :  Among  the  departed  might  have  been 
mentioned  the  names  of  Wirt,  Crawford,  Lowndes,  Judge 
Workman  of  Louisiana  who  contributed  to  the  Society's 
funds  $10,000,  and  others ;  and  among  its  surviving  friends, 
(and  long  may  they  be  spared  to  bless  their  country  and  the 
world,)  might  have  been  named,  of  civilians,  without  dis 
tinction  of  party  or  locality,  those  bright  lights  of  our  land, 
Clay,  Mercer,  Webster,  Frelinghuysen,  Southard,  Vroom, 
Cotton  Smith,  McLane,  Porter,  McKean,  Everett,  Butler, 
and  others ;  in  the  mercantile  world,  Gerard  Ralston,  Anson 
G.  Phelps,  Henry  Sheldon,  and  others  ;  and  among  the 
clergy,  Breckinridge,  Proudfit,  Gurley,  Burgess,  Bacon, 
Fisk,  Milnor,  DeWitt,  and  others ;  but  the  limits  assigned 
to  this  appendix  forbid  our  pursuing  this  subject  as  the 
thoughts  would  lead. 


We  should  also  advert,  by  acknowledgment,  to  the  fact 
that 

Dd 


326  APPENDIX. 

COLONIZATION  AND  AFRICA  HAVE  FOUND  GENEROUS  FRIENDS 
AMONG  THE  FAIR  SEX. 

Our  fair  countrywomen,  the  author  is  happy  to  say,  have 
not  withheld  the  pleasing  influence  and  encouragement  of 
their  good  example  and  charities  from  this  great  and  holy 
cause.  Always  ready  to  feel  for  the  wretched,  nor  ever 
backward  in  efforts  of  benevolence  when  humanity  calls, 
they  have,  in  many  instances,  done  themselves  high  honor 
by  the  aid  which  they  have  rendered  to  the  cause  of  Africa 
and  of  colonization.  Did  the  respect  that  is  due  to  the  re 
tiring  modesty  of  the  sex  not  forbid  it,  it  would  be  grateful 
to  bear  testimony  to  their  disinterested  benevolence,  and  re 
cord  the  names  of  not  a  few,  who,  though  their  good  works 
and  alms'  deeds  may  not  be  heralded  by  the  trump  of  earthly 
fame,  have  truly  a  record  on  high. 

As  an  encouragement  to  others  to  "  go,  and  do  likewise,*' 
and  as  a  just  recognition  of  that  moral  influence  which  the 
ladies  of  our  land,  like  ministering  angels  of  love  and  mercy, 
may  exert — often  undervalued  by  themselves,  but  acknow 
ledged  by  humanity  and  religion  to  be  of  unspeakable'worth — 
reference  may  be  here  made  to  a  few  instances  of  untiring 
friendship  and  devotion  to  the  cause,  as  communicated  in  a 
note  by  Elliott  Cresson,  Esq.  in  answer  to  an  inquiry  touch 
ing  the  extent  of  female  benevolence  in  support  of  the  free 
schools  in  Liberia.  Omitting  the  names  of  individuals,  and 
passing  by  some  parts  of  the  communication,  Mr.  Cresson 
writes  as  follows  : 

"  Colonization  owes  as  much,  perhaps,  to  female  zeal  and 
self-sacrificing  devotion,  as  any  benevolent  enterprise  of  the 
age.  In  the  infancy  of  the  Society,  when  its  friends  were 
few  and  timid,  and  its  enemies  many  and  determined,  the 

untiring  efforts  of  Bishop  M were  most  nobly  seconded 

by  his  excellent  sisters,  the  Misses  M ,  who  contributed 

very  largely  from   their  own  restricted  means,  eliciting  by 
their  example  and  personal  exertions,  the  co-operation  of 


APPENDIX.  327 

their  friends,  and  finally  dedicated  most  of  their  property  by 
will,  to  sustaining  this  holy  cause.  The  sisters-in-law  of 
that  devoted  friend  of  Africa  have  never  ceased  from  the  per 
formance  of  deeds  of  kindness  towards  her  oppressed  chil 
dren.  This  has  been  manifested  by  liberal  and  frequent  do 
nations,  by  unwearied  care  over  the  moral  and  religious  cul 
ture  of  those  entrusted  to  them  by  Providence,  and  recently, 
on  the  sailing  of  the  first  expedition  for  Bassa  Cove,  one  of 

them,  Mrs.  P ,  not  only  liberated  fourteen  choice  slaves 

to  aid  the  enterprise,  and  gave  them  an  ample  outfit,  but  ge 
nerously  added  $500  to  ensure  them  every  thing  necessary 
in  their  new  home. 

"  These  noble  examples  were  not  lost  on  their  friend  and 

neighbor,  Miss  B ,  who  in  addition  to  the  liberation  of 

eleven  slaves,  (contributing  nearly  all  her  little  property,) 
mortgaged  the  residue  and  raised  $800,  with  which  she  pur 
chased  the  freedom  of  the  husbands  of  two  of  her  women, 
who  were  held  by  persons  in  the  vicinity.  Nor  was  her 
strong  affection  for  this  degraded  people  stopped  here.  By 
devoting  the  proceeds  of  her  needle,  and  the  profits  of  her 
little  dairy  to  their  welfare,  she  has  yearly  increased  the 
humble  resources  of  the  Society,  and  many  a  neighbor  at 
her  instance  has  pledged  a  head  of  young  stock  to  the  same 
purpose,  so  that  at  the  year's  end,  the  united  tributes  of  these 
little  rills  have  done  much  to  swell  the  stream  of  benevolence. 
One  sister,  who  recently  died,  made  the  freedom  of  a  family 
now  settled  in  Liberia,  a  parting  request  to  her  surviving  re 
latives.  Mrs.  W ,  of  Mount  Vernon,  another  sister, 

has  lately  sent  an  interesting  and  valuable  family  of  slaves  to 
Liberia,  and  at  the  same  time  made  a  handsome  donation  to 
the  funds  of  the  Pennsylvania  Society,  whose  want  of  means 
alone  prevented  their  fitting  out  another  expedition  to  convey 
them  and  a  number  of  other  slaves  now  pressed  upon  the 
care  of  that  Society  by  their  benevolent  owners,  to  Bassa 
Cove. 


328  APPENDIX. 

"  Mrs.  M ,  Mrs.  B ,  and  Mrs.  C — —of  Arling 
ton,  might  be  mentioned  among  many  of  the  same  circle, 
who  have  for  years  heroically  devoted  themselves  to  the 
task  of  instructing  and  evangelizing  their  own  slaves,  and 
those  of  their  pious  neighbors,  and  aiding  in  support  of 
schools  in  Africa.  Rarely  have  we  listened  to  a  more  deeply 
interesting  narrative  than  that  of  a  clergyman  recently  on  a 
visit  in  the  South,  who  was  present  when  the  former  of 
those  ladies,  now  perfectly  blind,  on  learning  that  her  young 
est  and  darling  son  was  alone  deterred  from  offering  himself 
as  a  missionary  for  Africa  by  the  fear  that  she  would  not 
bear  the  separation,  called  for  her  guide  and  waited  on  the 
venerable  senior  Bishop  of  that  diocese,  to  assure  him  that 
however  severe  was  this  test  of  her  faith,  she  could  not  but 
cheerfully  resign  him  for  the  performance  of  a  service  so 
holy. 

"  The  name  of  Miss  M M will  descend  to  pos 
terity  as  one  of  the  illustrious  of  the  age.  Descending  from 
one  of  the  most  ancient  and  distinguished  families  of  the 
South,  and  brought  up  in  the  possession  of  all  that  wealth 
could  bestow,  this  noble  woman  did  not  hesitate,  on  the 
death  of  her  father,  to  liberate  her  own  share  of  his  slaves, 
together  with  such  others  as  could  be  purchased  ;  and  send 
ing  the  young,  the  active  and  the  vigorous,  at  her  own  cost, 
to  Africa,  she,  one  of  the  loveliest  and  most  accomplished  of 
her  sex,  converted  the  mansion  of  her  ancestors  into  a  board 
ing  school,  and  has  for  years  devoted  herself  to  the  arduous 
duties  of  superintending  it,  that  she  might  discharge  the 
debt  thus  incurred,  and  sustain  the  '  old  and  the  worn  out.' 
What  a  beautiful  comment  on  the  charge  of  our  adversaries, 
that  such  only  are  the  objects  of  the  pretended  benevolence 
of  colonizationists  !  It  has  been  the  privilege  of  the  writer 
of  this  faint  tribute  to  female  worth,  to  visit  Cedar  Park 
Seminary  at  the  period  of  its  annual  fair,  when  hundreds  of 
the  surrounding  gentry  assemble  to  enjoy  the  charming  scene 


APPENDIX.  329 

presented  by  her  fair  charge,  joyously  displaying  the  fruits 
of  the  past  year's  industry,  and  devoting  the  proceeds  of 
their  skill  and  their  taste  to  the  cause  of  education  in  Libe 
ria,  by  which  they  have  already  contributed  upwards  of  $1 100 
toward  the  proposed  college  at  Bassa  Cove.  The  venerable 
mansion — the  natural  features  of  the  scene,  almost  unparal 
leled  for  sylvan  charms — the  rich  display  of  articles  of  uti 
lity  and  beauty — the  happy  and  animated  groups  engaged 
in  the  duties  of  the  day,  were  all  highly  attractive :  but  it 
must  be  confessed  that  all  this  was  infinitely  heightened, 
when,  on  approaching  the  white-headed  little  company  of 
merry  old  negroes  assembled  beneath  the  ample  shade  of  the 
monarchs  that  had  for  centuries  spread  their  giant  arms 
athwart  the  verdant  lawn,  and  asking  some  questions  touch 
ing  themselves  and  their  absent  descendants,  they  poured 
forth  a  torrent  of  blessings  upon  their  '  good  missis'  for  the 
benefits  she  had  showered  on  '  them  and  theirs.' 

"  Who  can  forget  the   spirit-stirring  lays  of  the  sweet 

singer  of  the  north,  Mrs.  S ,  or  her  touching  appeals 

for  the  dark-browed  sons  of  Africa?  To  her  discriminating 
judgment  and  patient  care,  do  the  earliest  schools  of  Africa 
owe  much  for  the  selection  and  preparation  of  young  co 
lored  females  who  subsequently  became  eminently  useful 
as  teachers.  Or  who  but  must  revere  the  admirable  patron 

of  those  schools — the   venerable  Friend,  B S ,  of 

Philadelphia,  who  first  planted  and  sustained  them,  and  who 
has  since  presided  over  the  Ladies'  Liberia  School  Associa 
tion,  to  which  those  schools  gave  rise,  with  untiring  assi 
duity  and  liberality,  until  many  hundreds  of  the  offspring  of 
Africa  now  rejoice  in  the  privileges  of  a  Christian  education  ? 

"  Many  other  bright  names  might  be  added  to  this  hur 
ried  list  of  the  early  female  friends  of  colonization  ;  but 
having  already  exceeded  the  limits  I  had  proposed  for  an 
swering  the  query  of  yesterday,  permit  me  to  close  with 
that  of  the  widow  of  the  revered  Finley,  who,  on  advert- 


330  APPENDIX. 

ing  to  his  love  for  Africa  strong  in  death — added,  'one  son 
is  now  there,  the  other  is  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi 
pleading  her  cause — and  if  I  possessed  twenty,  I  would 
gladly  dedicate  them  all  to  the'same  holy  cause.' " 


In  another  portion  of  this  work  reference  has  been  made 
to  distinguished 

FRIENDS  OF  THE  CAUSE  IN  ENGLAND. 

This  reference  might  here  be  extended  ;  but  we  will  close 
our  notice  of  those  who  have  dedicated  their  time,  their  ta 
lents,  their  money,  and  their  prayers  to  this  great  enter 
prise,  with  a  beautiful  tribute  to  the  merits  of  colonization, 
from  the  pen  of  the  late  JONATHAN  HUTCHINSON,  one  who 
enjoyed  in  a  remarkable  degree  the  love  and  veneration  of 
his  fellow  Christians,  and  the  respect  of  all  who  knew  him. 
This  extract  is  from  testimony  borne  to  the  mission  of  one 
who  visited  England  not  long  since  to  promote  the  views  of 
the  American  Colonization  Society.* 

"After  a  serious  and  deliberate  consideration  of  the  plan 
exhibited  by  my  friend ,  for  educating,  chris 
tianizing  and  instructing  in  the  arts  of  civilized  life,  the 
emancipated  slave  ;  and  thus  preparing  him  as  a  fit  instru 
ment  for  conferring  similar  benefits  upon  his  countrymen  in 
Africa — on  this  review  I  am  led  to  the  conclusion  that  it  is 

*"  Hannah  Kilham,  who  was  a  member  of  ihe  Society  of  Friends  in 
England,  and  well  known  for  her  great  benevolence  and  ardent  piety, 
visited  Liberia  in  1832.  She  thus  expresses  herself  in  a  letter  written  while 
in  the  colony  :  'This  colony  altogether  presents  quite  a  new  scene  of  com 
bined  African  and  American  interest.  I  cannot  but  hope  and  trust,  that  it 
is  the  design  of  Infinite  Goodness  to  prepare  a  home  in  this  land  for  many 
who  have  been  denied  the  full  extent  of  privilege  in  the  land  of  their  birth, 
and  that  some,  who  are  brought  here  but  as  a  shelter  and  resource  for  them 
selves,  may,  through  the  visitation  of  heavenly  goodness  in  their  own  minds, 
and  the  farther  leadings  of  Divine  love,  become  ministers  of  the  glad  tidings 
of  the  gospel,  to  many  who  are  now  living  in  darkness,  and  the  shadow  of 
death.' " 


APPENDIX.  331 

the  most  intelligible  in  theory,  the  most  efficient  in  practice, 
and  the  least  expensive  of  any  proposition  on  this  important 
subject,  that  has  hitherto  met  my  observation.  .Should  this 
scheme  of  pure  benevolence  be  so  far  able  to  surmount  the 
difficulties  attending  its  course,  as  to  produce  the  full  amount 
of  good  of  which  it  appears  capable,  I  think  it  will  ultimately 
prove  to  have  been  one  of  the  greatest  blessings  ever  be 
stowed  by  a  gracious  Creator,  through  the  instrumentality 
of  man,  upon  suffering  and  degraded  humanity.  Under 
these  impressions,  I  cannot  but  desire  its  success — and  that 
every  one,  who  with  proper  motives  and  qualifications,  shall 
engage  in  the  service  of  so  noble  a  cause,  may  be  aided  by 
the  sympathy  and  support  of  every  friend  of  the  human 
race ;  and  that  he  may  also  be  favored  in  the  prosecution 
of  this  great  object,  with  assistance  and  protection  from  the 
universal  Parent  of  the  whole  family  of  man,  who  is  '  GOD 
over  all,  blessed  for  ever  !' 
"  Gedney,  Smo.  13,  1832." 


OBJECTIONS  OF  OPPOSERS. 

COLONIZATION    UNITES    SOME    OF    CONFLICTING    VIEW'S. 

It  has  been  said  by  those  that  are  opposed  to  the  coloniza 
tion  scheme,  that  inasmuch  as  the  Colonization  Society 
has  for  its  object  simply  the  removal  of  the  free  people  of 
color,  with  their  own  consent,  to  Africa,  and  is  supported 
in  this  enterprise  "by  one  class  of  people  for  one  reason, 
and  by  other  classes  for  other  reasons,"  the  action  of  the 
Society  "  being  suited  to  the  views  of  all,"  it  is  liable  to 
great  and  serious  objections.  On  the  other  hand,  the  friends 
of  colonization  think  that  the  singleness  and  simplicity  of  its 
aim,  give  it  great  and  manifest  advantages. 


332  APPENDIX. 

What  though  its  aim  being  one,  and  steadily  pursuing 
that  one  object,  it  finds  favor  from  those  of  somewhat  op 
posite  views  and  in  some  respects  conflicting  interests ; 
must  it  therefore  be  abandoned  ?  Let  it  be  so,  that  some 
give  it  countenance  whose  philanthropy  is  questionable, 
whose  piety  has  no  existence,  whose  motives  are  sinister, 
still,  if  the  object  of  the  Society  is  good,  and  the  end  to  be 
desired  by  the  philanthropist,  the  patriot,  and  Christian, 
ought  we  not  rather  to  rejoice  that  the  cause  of  benevolence 
and  patriotism  is  promoted?  "  The  presiding  spirit,  the 
life  and  soul  of  the  institution  has  ever  been,  and  ever  must 
be,  Christian  principle.  The  patriot  and  the  statesman  are 
deeply  concerned  in  its  success,  and  they  cannot  withhold 
their  influence  and  co-operation  ;  but  it  commends  itself  es 
pecially  to  the  Christian  heart,  for  there  it  finds  a  chord  that 
vibrates  in  unison  with  its  noble  design.  The  most  active 
and  efficient  friends  of  the  scheme  have  been  those  whom 
Christianity  claims  as  her  own."* 

*"The  patrons  of  this  enterprise  doubtless  contemplate  its  character 
through  different  mediums,  and  yield  it  their  friendliness  under  the  influ 
ence  of  different  motives.  So  various  are  the  objects  which  it  is  adapted 
and  intended  to  accomplish,  that  one  may  regard  it  with  favor  for  one  rea 
son,  and  another  for  a  different  reason,  while  each  may  feel  that  the  aspect 
in  which  he  views  it,  and  the  particular  consideration  which  appeals  effec 
tively  to  his  generous  sympathy,  are  of  sufficient  importance  to  justify  his 
unreserved  co-operation.  Hence,  among  the  variety  of  reasons  that  secure 
the  concurrence  of  its  numerous  friends,  we  find  the  foreign  reason  and  the 
domestic — the  southern  reason  and  the  northern — the  political,  the  com 
mercial  and  the  religious  reason. 

"  But,  there  is  one  patron  of  this  enterprise,  whose  discerning  eye  contem 
plates  it  in  every  aspect,  and  whose  candor  appreciates  all  its  designs  and 
tendencies,  and  in  whose  bosom  all  these  reasons  are  blended  into  one,  and 
whose  kindness  hesitates  not  to  express  the  cordial  wish,  arid  extend  the 
liberal  hand,  and  offer  the  fervent  prayer  for  its  enlarged  success.  Her 
name  is  Christianity.  It  is  because  the  objects  of  this  Society  are  good,  that 
she  approves  them — and  because  they  are  both  greut  and  good,  that  she 
fosters  them  with  her  patronage.  Contemplating  the  final  removal  from  our 
country's  escutcheon  of  a  stain  which  is  hourly  growing  deeper  and  broad 
er  and  darker — and  designing  to  alleviate  the  wretchedness  of  the  free 
colored  population,  and  place  them  in  circumstances  favorable  to  their 
physical  and  moral  improvement — and  aiming  at  the  elevation  of  the  black 
to  a  platform  parallel  with  the  white  man,  she  delights  in  its  high  purposes 
for  they  are  kindred  to  her  own — and  she  would  be  recreant  to  her  profes 
sions,  did  she  not  extend  to  it  her  cordial  encouragement,  and  sanction  it 
with  her  choicest  benedictions." — Rev.  C.  Stowe, 


APPENDIX.  333 

OBJECTIONS   CONTRADICTORY. 

The  opposers  of  colonization  say  that  to  advocate  the 
scheme  "on  the  ground  of  kindness  to  the  people  of  color, 
as  a  means  of  removing  the  free  from  prejudice  which  they 
cannot  rise  against  here,"  which,  say  they,  "  is  the  motive 
with  many,  is  to  sacrifice  at  least  two  other  objects — the  mis 
sionary  cause  in  Africa,  and  the  extinction  of  slavery  at 
home.  For  when  we  once  admit  the  conclusion  that  the 
free  people  of  color  cannot  be  elevated  here  to  an  equal 
enjoyment  of  the  civil  and  social  principles  of  our  institu 
tions,  you  cease  to  labor  for  it.  Your  philanthropy  then 
aims  at  the  removal  of  the  whole  body  of  the  free  colored 
people.  But  the  removal  of  such  a  body,  so  little  improved 
by  education  and  religion,  to  a  heathen  shore,  cannot  but  be 
prejudicial  to  the  spread  of  Christianity  there." 

Again  say  they,  "  the  effect  of  colonization  is  to  fasten 
the  bonds  of  the  slave — for  slave-holders  avail  themselves  of 
the  facilities  which  it  affords,  to  drain  off  the  excess  of  the 
free  blacks,  that  they  may  oppress,  with  the  greater  safety, 
those  who  are  still  in  bondage  !"  This  last  objection  has 
been  suggested,  in  substance,  even  by  one  to  whose  philan 
thropy  and  benevolence,  few  who  know  him,  would  hesitate 
to  yield  the  tribute  of  their  cheerful  testimony,  and  the 
purity  of  whose  motive  it  is  confidently  believed  is  above 
suspicion.  *  He  says  of  African  colonization,  "  It  is  a  ques 
tion,  whether  it  should  be  patronized,  whilst  American  slave 
ry  endures.  Is  it  right  to  induce  a  portion  of  the  colored 
people  of  this  country  to  turn  their  backs  on  their  brethren 
in  bonds  ;  to  go  to  a  returnless  distance  from  them,  and  to 
enter  upon  the  creation  of  new  interests  and  attachments, 
which  are  calculated  to  efface  the  recollection  of  those  left 
behind  them?  We  must  remember  too,  that  this  is  the 
only  portion  of  that  unhappy  population,  which  is  at  liberty 
to  remonstrate  against  the  cruelty  and  wickedness  of  oppres- 


334  APPENDIX. 

sion,  and  to  plead  for  the  exercise  of  mercy.  Those  for 
whom  they  are  required  to  open  their  mouths,  are  not  per 
mitted  to  speak  for  themselves — and  we  must  remember  too, 
that  amongst  these  dumb  ones,  whose  cause  we  should  there 
by  deprive  of  its  most  natural  advocates,  are,  in  innumer 
able  instances,  the  fathers,  mothers,  children,  brothers,  sis 
ters,  of  those  whom  we  propose  to  carry  away.  Were  we, 
our  families,  and  neighbors,  to  be  carried  captive  into  a 
foreign  land,  and  were  you  and  I  to  be  released  from  bon 
dage,  would  it  be  natural  and  right  in  us  to  separate  our 
selves  by  thousands  of  miles  and  for  ever,  from  our  friends 
and  kindred,  still  pining  under  the  yoke  of  slavery  ?  or 
would  it  not  be  a  more  humane  and  suitable  use  of  our  liberty 
to  cleave  to  those  beloved  sufferers — to  study  the  consolation 
of  their  aching  hearts — and  to  be  getting  up  every  righteous 
appeal  in  their  behalf  to  their  guilty  oppressors  ?  I  would 
not  say,  that  there  is  in  the  consideration  I  here  present,  a 
fatal  objection  to  the  colonization  scheme.  There  is  certain 
ly,  however,  enough  in  it  to  lead  us  to  inquire  whether  we 
are  clearly  doing  right,  and  as  we  would  be  done  by,  when 
we  labor  to  induce  our  free  people  of  color  to  desert  their 
enslaved  brethren.  There  is  certainly  enough  in  it  to  ex 
cuse  the  following  resolution,  (of  certain  blacks,) — '  Resolv 
ed,  That  we  never  will  separate  ourselves  voluntarily  from 
the  slave  population  of  our  country.  They  are  our  brethren 
by  the  ties  of  consanguinity,  of  suffering  and  of  wrong ; 
and  we  feel  that  there  is  more  virtue  in  suffering  privations 
with  them,  than  in  enjoying  fancied  advantages  for  a  sea 
son.'  " 

These  objections  are  thus  stated  at  some  length,  for  can 
dor  requires  it.  But  in  reference  to  them,  it  may  be  proper 
to  ask,  whether  the  one  objection  does  not  in  a  good  degree 
nullify  the  other  ?  If  the  colored  people  to  whom  the  So 
ciety  would  afford  facilities  for  removing  to  Africa,  are  of 
such  signal  service  at  home,  and  so  essential  to  their  "  breth- 


APPENDIX.  335 

ren  in  bonds,"  might  they  not  be  greatly  useful  in  Liberia  ? 
Or,  is  the  avowed  object  of  their  detention  to  secure  their  in 
crease,  and  to  encourage  their  co-operation  with  the  slave 
stimulated  by  the  arguments  and  persuasions  and  flatteries  of 
a  portion  of  the  whites,  until  fearful  and  bloody  scenes  shall 
be  the  result  ?  It  is  believed  by  many  that  there  is  but  one 
possible  way  in  which,  opposing  colonization,  the  blacks 
can  be  led  to  expect  that  they  shall  expedite  the  abolishment 
of  slavery  in  our  land,  or  that  they  can  be  of  essential  bene 
fit  to  their  "  brethren  in  bonds,"  by  remaining  here;  and 
that  is,  by  the  system  of  compulsion  which  has  been  alluded 
to.  For  how  will  the  free  blacks  "remonstrate  with  the 
holders  of  slaves  ? — hoiu  appeal  in  behalf  of  their  enslaved 
brethren,  to  their  guilty  oppressors?"  Will  their  remon 
strances  be  suffered  at  the  South  ? — will  their  appeals  be  lis 
tened  to  ?  Or  are  the  blacks  who  are  already  free,  to  "  re 
monstrate"  indirectly,  and  to  "  appeal"  indirectly,  to  those 
who  are  termed  "  guilty  oppressors,"  through  the  influence 
of  the  people  in  the  northern  States  ?  Could  the  great  ma 
jority  of  the  non-slaveholding  States  be  brought  to  be  of  one 
mind  on  the  subject,  and  should  they  think  arid  declare  their 
conviction  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  slave-holder  to  give  imme 
diate  and  universal  freedom  to  his  slaves,  what  can  they  do 
more  ?  Violate  the  constitution  ?  Amend  it  ?  Either  at 
tempt  will  be  the  certain  signal  for  the  dissolution  of  the 
Union,  and  perhaps  for  the  flowing  of  rivers  of  blood.  The 
South  are  evidently  resolved  to  allow  of  no  interference  ; 
and  it  is  honestly  believed  by  many  that  a  much  surer  way 
of  bringing  about  unity  of  sentiment  in  relation  to  the  course 
of  the  slave-holder,  is  to  relieve  all  parts  of  our  country  as 
fast  as  possible  from  the  evils  which  seem  inseparable  from 
the  presence  of  a  degraded  population  of  the  colored  free. 
But  why,  again  it  is  asked,  why  the  solemn  remonstrance 
against  aiding  the  emigration  of  such  free  blacks  as  desire  to 
settle  in  Liberia,  on  the  ground  that  their  "  appeals"  and 


336  APPENDIX. 

"  remonstrances"  are  needed  at  home,  and  that  it  would  be 
a  great  dereliction  of  duty  in  them,  "  to  turn  their  backs  on 
their  brethren  in  bonds  ?"  Whether  the  resolution  referred 
to  would  ever  have  emanated  unsolicited  from  any  portion  of 
the  colored  people  themselves,  is  a  question  concerning 
which  some  have  expressed  doubts  ;  and  how  far  such  a  re 
solution,  and  the  declaration  and  use  of  it  as  above,  is  politic 
and  calculated  to  benefit  either  the  slave  or  the  free,  or  con 
ciliate  feelings  supposed  to  be  adverse  to  the  interests  of 
both,  admits  also  of  doubt. 

COLONIZATION  WILL  ADVANCE  CHRISTIANITY. 

As  to  this  first  objection — it  is  declared  by  the  friends  of 
colonization  that  they  never  designed  to  remove  to  Liberia 
such  as  forbid  the  hope  of  their  becoming  good  citizens  of 
the  colony.  Moreover  when  the  humane,  encouraged  by 
the  door  which  colonization  opens  for  them  to  better  the 
condition  of  their  slaves,  have  resolved  on  their  emancipa 
tion,  there  has  usually  been  an  effort  preparatory,  to  qualify 
them  for  the  new  station  which  they  are  to  occupy.  Be- 
sides?  not  only  is  great  pains  taken  by  the  Society  in  respect 
to  the  morals  of  those  sent  to  the  colony,  and  great  encou 
ragement  given  by  the  Society  to  the  slave-holder  to  emanci 
pate  his  slaves,  and  prepare  them  for  freedom ;  but  it  is  a 
fact  well  understood,  that  those  freed  blacks  who  are  here 
without  sufficient  incentive  to  manly  effort,  and  without  the 
means  or  opportunity  to  rise,  are  inspired  with  new  life  when 
placed  in  a  situation  which  furnishes  greater  motive  to  energy 
and  virtue. 

Circumstances  have  great  influence  in  forming  the  cha 
racter.  "  The  early  circumstances  of  the  people  of  New- 
England,"  says  the  Repository  of  1831,  "rendered  them 
proverbially  enterprising ;  and  we  recently  heard  a  foreigner 
remark,  that  England  had  hardly  made  a  single  invention  in 


APPENDIX.  337 

the  mechanic  arts,  which  has  not  already  been  improved 
upon  in  the  United  States,  National,  like  individual  cha 
racter,  is  often  elevated  and  strengthened  by  circumstances  ; 
and  no  one  can  doubt  that  many  causes  that  can  never  be 
realized  here,  will  operate  in  Africa  to  develope  the  talents, 
invigorate  the  faculties,  and  dignify  the  purposes  of  the  peo 
ple  of  color. 

Nationality  is  indispensable  to  the  proper  elevation  of  any 
people,  and  the  full  developement  of  the  human  intellect.* 
How  many,  who,  had  they  remained  here,  would  have  been 
hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of  water,  undistinguished 
either  for  their  enterprise,  or  any  virtue,  are  achieving  for 
themselves  and  descendants,  great  honor  in  Liberia  ?t  The 

*  Dr.  Beecher  has  well  remarked,  that  "  There  is  no  such  thing  as  raising 
the  human  mind  without  nationality.  You  must  have  the  whole  machinery 
of  society,  or  you  never  will  do  it.  That  is  the  reason  the  Indians  cannot 
be  civilized.  It  is  a  slander  to  say  that  there  is  any  thing  in  the  Indian 
mind  to  prevent  it.  They  are  not  improved,  because  you  cannot  bring  upon 
them  the  motives  for  improvement.  They  have  no  national  existence  to 
bring  out  their  powers.  I  mourn  over  their  condition  ;  and  sure  I  am,  that 
if  they  could  have  one  state  where  their  mind  would  have  a  fair  field  to 
show  itself,  it  would  develope  as  great  and  noble  traits  as  ever  distinguished 
humanity.  I  never  knew  human  nature  in  a  state  of  barbarism  where  it 
exhibited  such  features  as  it  does  among  our  American  Indians.  As  to  the 
poor  African,  he  never  can  rise  without  space  to  move  in,  and  motives  to 
action.  If  you  refuse  to  remove  him,  you  will  have  an  equal  number  of 
paupers  thrown  upon  your  shores,  and  then  you  must  support  both.  The 
ways  of  God  are  high  and  dreadful.  He  takes  the  wickedest  of  men  and 
causes  them  to  accomplish  his  own  purpose.  Their  hearts  think  not  so, 
neither  do  they  mean  so ;  but  in  their  wickedness  they  do  that  which  God 
blesses  and  overrules  for  good.  The  coast  of  Africa  has  been  environed 
with  dangers.  It  is  almost  inaccessible  to  the  approach  of  the  white  man, 
and  that  whole  continent  has  yet  to  be  civilized  and  christianized  ;  and 
how  is  it  to  be  done?  God  has  permitted  what  has  come  to  pass.  He  has 
suffered  its  inhabitants  to  be  brought  here  as  slaves,  and  the  transposition 
has  scarcely  increased  their  miseries.  God  is  not  in  a  hurry  in  accomplish 
ing  his  designs ;  and  by  bringing  them  into  a  Christian  land,  he  has  pre 
pared  the  way  for  Iheir  being  thrown  back  in  a  christianized  condition  on 
their  native  shore.  I  believe  that  colonization  is  destined  to  stop  the  slave- 
trade.  Your  colonies  will  stand  like  a  chain  of  light  from  point  to  point 
along  the  whole  dark  coast  of  benighted  Africa,  and  from  the  colonies  will 
your  missionaries  go  into  the  interior,  until  they  shall  have  spread  a  belt  of 
salvation  over  that  benighted  portion  of  the  globe." 

t "  It  would  be  very  difficult  to  point  to  any  part  of  the  world  where  new 
colonists  are  not,  both  intellectually  and  morally,  superior  lo  the  people 
in  the  old  country  from  whom  they  sprang.  Especially  is  this  the  case  where 
any  pains  have  been  taken  to  extend  to  the  new  settlement  the  means  of 
moral  and  intellectual  improvement.  The  colony  in  New  South  Wales, 
composed  to  a  great  extent  of  the  most  degraded  class  of  the  British  people, 

E  e 


338  APPENDIX. 

instances  are  not  a  few,  and  the  facts  are  irresistible.  And 
whilst  they  have  done  well  both  for  themselves  and  posterity, 
by  removal,  it  is  also  said  in  truth,  "  The  elevated  religious 
character  of  the  colonists,  their  serious  observance  of  the 
Sabbath,  their  strict  integrity  in  commercial  intercourse,  and 
their  habitual  propriety  of  conduct,  have  secured  the  respect 
of  the  natives,  and  placed  matters  in  such  an  attitude,  that 
any  efforts  to  promote  their  temporal  and  eternal  welfare 
would  be  kindly  received  and  abundantly  successful." 

Is  the  colony  of  Liberia  such  as  "  cannot  but  be  prejudi 
cial  to  the  spread  of  Christianity  ?"  It  is  not  the  testimony  of 
one  alone,  as  given  above  ;  but  credible  witnesses  who  have 
been  at  the  colony,  and  seen  for  themselves,  and  were  com 
petent  to  form  a  correct  and  unprejudiced  opinion,  declare 
that  a  more  moral  community  cannot  be  found  together  in 
any  part  of  our  own  highly  favored  country  !  That  a  good 
Christian  influence  has  been  exerted  by  the  colony,  facts 
that  call  for  gratitude  to  heaven,  and  that  powerfully  urge 
the  claims  of  colonization  upon  our  benevolence,  fully  attest. 
By  the  removal  of  the  free  blacks,  they,  as  a  whole,  and  their 
posterity,  are  blessed ;  at  the  same  time,  Africa  is  blessed, 
and  our  own  country  is  benefitted.  The  influence  of  the 
example  of  the  colony  upon  the  surrounding  heathen,  al 
though  that  example  may  not  be  perfect,  is  good  ;  facilities 
are  afforded  by  the  colony  to  missionary  effort  which,  with 
out  the  colony,  could  not  be  enjoyed,  and  without  which  fa 
cilities  in  the  then  present  state  of  Africa,  every  effort  would 
be  comparatively  hopeless  ;  the  slave-trade  is  interrupted, 
and  will  finally  be  utterly  broken  up  ;  and  Africa  is  being 
restored  to  respectability  and  happiness,  that  she  may  rise 
from  the  dust,  and  her  once  enslaved  children  and  their  de 
scendants  may  obtain  a  name  and  a  place  among  the  nations 
of  the  earth. 

of  men  and  women  condemned  to  transportation  for  their  crimes,  is  now  an 
industrious,  moral,  and  flourishing  community,  and  bids  fair  to  become  the 
nucleus  of  a  great  and  respectable  nation.  New  colonies,  from  the  nature 
of  the  case,  are  favorable  to  the  improvement  of  character." — Repository. 


APPENDIX.  339 

It  would  be  easy  here  to  multiply  instances  showing  the 
rapid  deterioration,  generally,  of  slaves,  as  respects  morality, 
industry,  and  all  virtue,  when  freed,  without  the  stimulus 
which  a  new  location,  where  are  encouraging  prospects  of 
due  elevation,  gives.  We  will  refer  to  an  instance  or  two. 

Said  William  Ifadd,  Esq.,  of  Maine,  in  an  address  before 
the  Massachusetts  Colonization  Society,  in  1833,  in  support 
of  a  resolution  *  that  the  American  Colonization  Society 
merits  the  confidence  and  patronage  of  all  who  are  opposed, 
on  principle,  to  slavery,'  "  Many  years  ago  I  loaded  a  ship 
in  Savannah,  and  had  for  my  stevedore,  one  Joe  Blog.  He 
was  one  of  the  smartest  and  most  faithful  men  I  ever  em 
ployed.  I  gave  his  master  a  dollar  a  day  for  him,  and  gave 
Joe  privately  half  a  dollar  a  day  beside.  Joe  was  active, 
sleek,  well-dressed,  and  sprightly.  Joe  was  a  slave.  Some 
years  after,  I  returned  to  the  same  port,  and  sought  out  my 
old  friend  Joe,  and  employed  him.  He  was  idle,  restless, 
ragged,  and  lazy,  and  I  soon  dismissed  him.  Joe  was  free. 
And  as  far  as  my  observation  has  extended,  and  I  have  lived 
long  in  slave  countries,  this  is  a  fair  sample  of  the  liberated 
slaves,  though  there  are  noble  exceptions.  But  I  consider  it 
more  their  misfortune  than  their  fault.  With  no  other  in 
centive  to  labor  than  the  fear  of  the  lash,  uneducated  and  ig 
norant,  what  better  can  we  expect  ?" 

The  illustrious  Madison,  in  a  letter  to  a  gentleman,  pub 
lished  just  before  his  decease,  says,  "You  express  a  wish 
to  obtain  information  in  relation  to  the  history  of  the  emanci 
pated  people  of  color  in  Prince  Edward.  I  presume  those 
emancipated  by  the  late  Richard  Randolph  more  especially. 
More  than  twenty-five  years  ago,  I  think,  they  were  libe 
rated,  at  which  time  they  numbered  about  100,  and  were 
settled  on  small  parcels  of  land  of  ten  to  twenty-five  acres  to 
each  family.  As  long  as  the  habits  of  industry  which  they 
had  acquired  while  slaves,  lasted,  they  continued  to  increase 
in  numbers,  and  lived  in  some  degree  of  comfort. — but  as 


340  APPENDIX 

soon  as  this  was  lost,  and  most  of  those  who  had  been  many 
years  in  slavery,  either  died  or  became  old  and  infirm,  and  a 
new  race  raised  in  idleness  and  vice  sprang  up,  they  began 
not  only  to  be  idle  and  vicious,  but  to  diminish  instead  of  in 
creasing,  and  have  continued  to  diminish  in  numbers  very 
regularly  every  year — and  that  too,  without  emigration ;  for 
they  have  almost  without  exception,  remained  together,  in 
the  same  situation  as  at  first  placed,  to  this  day.  Idleness, 
poverty,  and  dissipation  are  the  agents  which  continue  to 
diminish  their  numbers,  and  to  render  them  wretched  in  the 
extreme,  as  well  as  a  great  pest  and  heavy  tax  upon  the 
neighborhood  in  which  they  live.  There  is  so  little  of  in 
dustry  and  so  much  dissipation  among  them,  that  it  is  im 
possible  that  the  females  can  rear  their  families  of  children — 
and  the  consequence  is,  that  they  prostitute  themselves,  and 
consequently  have  few  children — and  the  operations  of  time, 
profligacy,  and  disease,  more  than  keep  pace  with  any  in 
crease  among  them.  While  they  are  a  very  great  pest  and 
heavy  tax  upon  the  community,  it  is  most  obvious  they 
themselves  are  infinitely  worsted  by  the  exchange  from 
slavery  to  liberty — if,  indeed,  their  condition  deserve  that 
name." 

In  reference  to  the  other  objection — that  colonization  per 
petuates  slavery,  we  may  also  appeal  to  facts.  Mr.  M. 
Carey  has  said  truly,  that  "  Among  the  most  promising  and 
encouraging  circumstances  attending  the  career  of  this  So 
ciety,  are  the  numerous  manumissions  that  have  taken  place 
in  almost  all  the  slave  states,  on  the  express  condition  of  the 
freed  people  being  sent  to  Liberia.  These  manumissions 
have  occurred  on  a  scale  that  the  most  sanguine  friends  of 
the  scheme  could  not  have  anticipated.  Entire  families  have 
been  blest  with  their  freedom,  from  the  most  pure  motives, 
a  conviction  of  the  immorality  and  injustice  of  slavery — and 
in  many  cases  ample  provision  has  been  made  for  the  ex 
pense  of  their  passage,  and  in  some,  for  their  support  in,  Li- 


APPENDIX.  341 

beria.  They  have  been  thus  released  from  the  debasement 
and  degradation  of  slavery,  and  sent  to  the  land  of  their  fa 
thers,  to  partake  of  all  the  happiness  that  freedom  and  the 
certainty  of  enjoying  all  the  fruits  of  their  labor,  can  in 
spire." 

COLONIZATION  PROMOTES  EMANCIPATION. 

It  would  be  impracticable  here  to  enumerate  all  the  cases 
that  have  transpired  in  which  the  opening  at  Liberia  has  been 
an  inducement  to  the  liberation  of  slaves.  The  facts  which 
Mr.  Carey  collected  and  published  in  his  letters,  and  those 
additional  instances  which  have  fallen  under  notice  recently, 
cannot  all  be  mentioned  here.  But  a  few  instances  may  be 
given  as  specimens,  to  show  the  good  influence  of  the  society 
in  encouraging  emancipation,  and  to  show  the  encourage 
ment  which  is  given  to  the  Society  to  persevere  and  abound 
in  its  great  and  benevolent  work. 

Col.  Smith,  an  old  revolutionary  officer,  of  Sussex  county, 
Va.,  ordered  in  his  will,  that  all  his  slaves,  seventy  or  eighty 
in  number,  should  be  emancipated  ;  and  bequeathed  above 
$5,000  to  defray  the  expense  of  transporting  them  to  Li 
beria.  Patsey  Morris,  of  Louisa  county,  Va.,  directed  by 
will,  that  all  her  slaves,  sixteen  in  number,  should  be  eman 
cipated,  and  left  $500  to  fit  them  out,  and  defray  the  expense 
of  their  passage.  Dr.  Bradley,  of  Georgia,  left  forty-nine 
slaves  free,  on  condition  of  their  removal  to  Liberia.  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Morris,  of  Bourbon  co.  Va.,  provided  by  will  for 
the  emancipation  of  her  slaves,  about  forty  in  number.  Da 
vid  Patterson,  of  Orange  co.  N.  C.,  freed  eleven  slaves,  to 
be  sent  to  Liberia.  A  gentleman  in  N.  C.  last  year,  gave 
freedom  to  all  his  slaves,  fourteen  in  number,  and  provided 
$20  each,  to  pay  their  passage  to  Liberia.  Win.  Fitzhugh, 
bequeathed  their  freedom  to  all  his  slaves,  after  a  certain 
fixed  period,  and  ordered  that  their  expenses  should  be  paid 
to  whatsoever  place  they  should  think  proper  to  go.  And, 
E  e  2 


342  APPENDIX. 

"  as  an  encouragement  to  them  to  emigrate  to  the  American 
colony  on  the  coast  of  Africa,  where,"  adds  the  will,  "I  be 
lieve  their  happiness  will  be  more  permanently  secured,  I 
desire  not  only  that  the  expenses  of  their  emigration  be  paid, 
but  that  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars  be  paid  to  each  one  so  emi 
grating  on  his  or  her  arrival  in  Africa."  David  Shriver, 
of  Frederic  co.  Md.,  ordered  by  his  will,  that  all  his  slaves, 
thirty  in  number,  should  be  emancipated,  and  that  proper 
provision  should  be  made  for  the  comfortable  support  of  the 
infirm  and  aged,  and  for  the  instruction  of  the  young  in 
reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic,  and  in  some  art  or  trade,  by 
which  they  might  acquire  the  means  of  support.  Rev.  Ro 
bert  Cox,  Suffolk  co.  Va.,  provided  by  his  will  for  the  eman 
cipation  of  all  his  slaves,  upwards  of  thirty,  and  left  several 
hundred  dollars  to  pay  their  passage  to  Liberia.  A  lady, 
near  Charlestown,  Va.  liberated  all  her  slaves,  ten  in  num 
ber,  to  be  sent  to  Liberia ;  and  moreover  purchased  two, 
whose  families  were  among  her  slaves.  For  the  one  she 
gave  $450,  and  for  the  other  $350.  Herbert  B.  Elder,  of 
Petersburg,  Va.  bequeathed  their  freedom  to  all  his  slaves, 
twenty  in  number,  with  directions  that  they  should  be  con 
veyed  to  Liberia,  by  the  first  opportunity.  Mrs.  J.  of  Mer 
cer  co.  Kentucky,  and  her  two  sons,  one  a  clergyman,  and 
the  other  a  physician,  offered  the  Colonization  Society  sixty 
slaves  to  be  conveyed  to  Liberia.  Rev.  Fletcher  Andrew, 
gave  freedom  to  twenty,  who  constituted  most  of  his  pro 
perty,  for  the  same  purpose.  Nathaniel  Crenshaw,  near 
Richmond,  liberated  sixty  slaves,  with  a  view  to  have  them 
sent  to  Liberia.  Mr.  Isaac  Ross,  of  Mississippi,  an  officer 
in  the  war  of  the  revolution,  more  recently  left  all  his  slaves, 
170  in  number,  on  the  following  conditions,  viz  :  that  after 
the  death  of  his  daughter,  (now  a  widow,)  the  slaves  who 
may  be  over  twenty-one  years  of  age  shall  decide  whether 
they  will  remain  in  bondage  or  go  to  Africa.  If  they  deter 
mine  to  go  to  Africa,  all  the  property  is  to  be  sold,  and  the 


APPENDIX.  343 

proceeds,  together  with  the  proceeds  of  the  crops  till  that 
time,  (12,000  or  15,000  dollars  excepted,)  are  to  be  expend 
ed  in  their  transportation  and  comfortable  settlement  in  the 
colony  of  Liberia,  and  the  establishment  of  an  institution 
of  learning  in  some  part  of  the  colony.  If  they  determine 
not  to  go,  they  and  all  the  estate  is  to  be  sold,  and  the  pro 
ceeds  applied  to  the  endowment  of  the  aforesaid  institution 
of  learning.  A  gentleman  of  Louisiana,  not  long  since,  left 
thirty  to  go  to  Liberia,  and  directed  his  executors  to  pay 
their  passage — an  outfit  of  tools,  implements  of  husbandry, 
provisions  and  clothes  for  one  year,  and  to  two  of  them  he 
gave  $500  each.  Another,  from  the  same  State,  left  thirty, 
making  similar  provisions  for  their  removal  to  Africa,  and 
for  their  comfort  after  their  arrival.  In  Virginia,  recently, 
one  has  manumitted  twenty-three,  another  fifty,  another  six 
teen,  and  a  fourth  twenty-five  ;  and  many  others  with 
similar  and  smaller  numbers.  But  all  were  manumitted  on 
condition  of  their  going  to  Africa.  In  Tennessee,  many  ex 
amples  similar  to  the  above  have  been  given  during  the  past 
year.  One  man  liberated  twenty-three,  and  another  twenty- 
one,  supplying  them  with  ample  funds,  and  also  providing 
clothing  for  them,  and  furnishing  them  with  suitable  tools, 
and  for  paying  the  expense  of  their  removal  to  Africa.  Her 
legislature  has  promised  to  give  $10  toward  defraying  the 
expenses  of  each  one  who  shall  go  to  Liberia.  The  ex 
cellent  example  of  Mr.  Turpin,  who  some  time  since  eman 
cipated  all  his  slaves  in  South  Carolina,  and  gave  them  his 
estate  valued  at  $329, 000,  is  worthy  of  constant  remembrance 
and  imitation.  Eighteen  were  liberated  by  Mrs.  Greenfield, 
near  Natchez,  on  the  condition  that  they  should  go  to  Africa; 
and  on  the  same  condition  E.  B.  Randolph,  of  Columbus, 
liberated  twenty ;  Wm.  Foster,  Esq.  twenty-one ;  another 
twenty-eight ;  a  gentleman  in  Kentucky,  sixty ;  a  lady  in 
the  same  State,  forty  ;  all  for  the  most  part  young,  and  all, 
with  very  few  exceptions,  under  forty  years  of  age.  The 


344  APPENDIX. 

Society  of  Friends  in  North  Carolina  had  liberated,  in  1835, 
no  less  than  652. 

Numerous  applications  are  constantly  before  the  Society, 
or  its  auxiliaries,  for  assistance  in  emigrating  to  Africa.  A 
large  number  of  slaves  are,  by  the  decision  of  their  masters, 
free  in  prospect,  and  in  a  course  of  preparation  for  liberty  ; 
whilst  others  will  be  free  the  moment  they  can  find  a  pas 
sage  to  Liberia. 

It  is  an  unquestionable  fact,  well  worthy  of  consideration, 
that  the  fewer  slaves  there  are  in  any  section  of  country, 
the  more  easy  is  it  to  emancipate  ;  and  the  stronger  becomes 
the  tendency  to  emancipation.  The  same  remark  may  ap 
ply  to  the  absence  of  a  free  colored  population  in  slave-hold 
ing  districts.  It  is  not  easy  to  emancipate  the  slave  whilst, 
by  so  doing,  you  will  in  all  probability  increase  the  dangers 
that  threaten  society,  and  swell  the  number  of  those  whose 
freedom  seems  to  be  a  curse.  Besides,  as  instances  are 
multiplied,  those  who  emancipate  their  slaves,  become  a 
standing  monument,  in  the  midst  of  a  slave-holding  commu 
nity  "  of  the  triumph  of  Christian  principle  over  selfish  in 
terest — a  constant,  living  reproof  to  all  who  still  retain  their 
fellow-men  in  bondage."* 

If  colonization  were  abandoned,  many  Christian  slave 
holders,  who  desire  to  emancipate  their  slaves,  would  be  de 
prived  of  the  power  of  doing  so,  the  laws  of  the  slave-hold 
ing  States  generally  prohibiting  emancipation  unless  the 
slaves  are  removed  from  the  State.  True,  it  may  be  said, 


*  Much  has  been  said  in  reference  to  emancipation,  of  a  mental  renuncia 
tion  of  the  right  of  property  in  slaves;  "a  renunciation  which  the  law 
would  treat  as  a  nullity,  and  which  might  be  mentally  retracted,  at  any 
moment,  without  the  knowledge  of  the  community."  One  instance,  in  the 
midst  of  the  slave-holding  States,  of  bona  fide  emancipation,  evidenced  by 
self-denying  exertions  to  locate  the  emancipated  in  a  land  where  they  may 
be  truly  free  and  blessed,  will,  it  is  conscientiously  believed,  have  more 
force  in  freeing  others,  than  a  hundred  auxiliaries  at  the  North,  or  tens  of 
thousands  of  speeches  and  resolves  which  never  reach  rhe  eye  or  ear  of  a 
single  slave-holder,  or  if  they  do,  serve  only  to  irritate  the  slave-holder,  and 
shut  up  every  avenue  to  conviction. 


APPENDIX.  345 

"  these  are  wicked  laws  ;"  and  the  sincerity  of  such  slave 
holders  may  be  treated  with  discredit,  and  affected  contempt 
and  ridicule  may  assail  them  in  the  place  of  kind  remon 
strance  and  argument — as  in  the  following  instance,  taken 
from  an  "  immediate  abolition"  periodical : — 

" But  are  you  not  aware,  Sir,  that  in  many  States 

there  are  laws  against  emancipation  ?"  This  was  Uttered 
with  a  most  imposing  air  by  a  man  who  was  defending  slave 
ry  under  the  present  circumstances.  "  Indeed,"  replied  his 
opponent,  "  but  who  make  the  laws  ?"  "  The  slave-hold 
ers,  to  be  sure."  "  So  I  thought ;  and  the  unfortunate  con 
dition  of  the  poor  slave-holders,  who  have  tied  their  own 
hands  by  such  laws,  reminds  me  of  an  anecdote.  A  lady 
somewhere  in  Virginia,  on  going  out  for  a  few  hours,  left 
some  trifling  matters  to  be  attended  to  in  her  absence,  by  her 
little  daughter.  On  her  return,  she  found  that  all  the  things 
which  were  to  be  done,  had  been  neglected. — '  How  is  this, 
my  dear,'  said  she,  '  why  have  you  not  done  this,  and 
why  not  that  ?'  *  Because  I  could'nt  mamma.'  *  But  why 
could'nt  you  ?'  *  Why,  don't  you  see,  mamma,  I  am  tied 
to  the  leg  of  the  table  ?'  *  Indeed,  so  you  are,  but  who 
tied  you  to  the  leg  of  the  table,  my  dear  ?'  '  Oh,  I  tied  my 
self,  mamma !  /' ' 

This  anecdote,  quite  amusing  in  itself,  whether  founded 
in  fact  or  supposed,  is  in  its  application,  to  say  the  least, 
unfair  and  sophistical.  It  supposes  that  those  slave-holders 
who  find  the  laws  an  impediment  in  the  way  of  emancipa 
tion,  are  the  identical  majority  of  the  several  States,  which 
majority  has  enacted  those  laws  ;  this,  it  is  well  known,  is 
not  the  fact — and  unless  it  be  so,  how  is  the  comparison  just 
or  otherwise  than  unkind  and  insulting  to  the  benevolent 
and  Christian  feelings  of  those  who,  seeking  the  best  inter 
ests  of  the  colored  race,  are  desirous  of  giving  freedom  to 
their  slaves?*  Besides,  it  is  possible,  not  only  for  individu- 

*"  In  the  year  1770,  the  Friends  in  the  United  States  declared  slavery  to 
be  inconsistent  with  the  principles  of  Christianity,  and  prohibited  it  among 


346  APPENDIX. 

als  who  can  have  but  little  influence  in  legislation,  but  even 
for  the  majority,  even  for  a  whole  people,  without  an  indi 
vidual  exception,  to  propose,  and  enact,  and  continue,  and 
support  such  laws,  without  being  liable  to  the  inconsistency 
and  reproach  which  is  intended  in  the  above  comparison. 
Laws  are  designed  for  the  general  good  ;  and  if  it  be  not 
safe  for  the  community  at  large  ;  and  not  generous  and  truly 
kind,  but  greatly  injurious  to  the  slaves  at  large,  to  emanci 
pate  them  universally  and  immediately — laws  for  the  pre 
servation  of  the  slave,  and  the  protection  of  the  common 
wealth,  are  necessary  and  unavoidable ;  and  by  those  laws 
all  good  citizens  must  be  governed,  without  exception. — 
Every  good  citizen  in  that  case  is  "  tied,"  not  by  himself, 
but  by  invincible  necessity — the  peculiar  circumstances  of 

the  members  of  their  body.  The  Friends  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  North 
Carolina,  including  a  part  of  Tennessee  and  Virginia,  amounting  Jo  many 
thousands,  petitioned  the  Legislature  of  North  Carolina,  for  permission  to 
emancipate  their  slaves.  Jt  was  refused.  They  continued  to  press  the 
subject  with  petition  after  petition  for  forty  years,  and  with  no  better  suc 
cess.  They  at  length,  without  law,  emancipated  their  slaves  upon  the  soil ; 
and  what  was  the  consequence?  More  than  one  hundred  of  those  emanci 
pated  slaves  were  taken  up,  and  sold  into  perpetual  and  hopeless  bondage, 
under  the  laws  of  the  State.  Emancipation  on  the  soil  was  plainly  im 
possible  in  the  existing  state  of  public  feeling.  After  various  expedients, 
and  having  expended  in  ten  years  more  than  $20,000  jn  procuring  asylums 
for  their  slaves  in  the  free  States,  the  free  States  made  enactments  prevent 
ing  this  intrusion  of  free  blacks  upon  them.  Pennsylvania,  New-Jersey, 
and  New- York  were  applied  to  in  vain,  the  door  was  shut.  Some  years 
since,  they  embarked  one  hundred  of  their  liberated  slaves  for  Pennsylva 
nia.  They  were  refused  a  landing  in  the  State.  They  went  over  to  New 
Jersey.  The  same  refusal  met  them  there.  They  were  then  left  to  float  up 
and  down  the  Delaware  river  without  a  spot  of  dry  land  to  set  their  feet 
upon,  till  the  Colonization  Society  took  them  up  and  gave  them  a  resting 
place  in  Liberia. 

"They  have  now  five  hundred  slaves  left,  whom  they  are  anxious  to  li 
berate  ;  and  what  shall  they  do  ;  Get  the  laws  of  the  State  altered  ?  They 
labored  after  that  for  forty  years,  and  more  than  one  whole  generation  of 
black  men  died  in  bondage  while  their  masters  were  striving  to  effectuate 
immediate  emancipation.  IMMEDIATE  EMANCIPATION  they  found  to  be  so 
slowaprocess  that  they  were  obliged  to  resort  to  COLONIZATION,  in  order 
that  something  might  be  done  immediately.  And  in  such  instances,  what 
possible  mode  of  immediate  relief  is  there  except  colonization  ?  Shall  they 
resist  the  laws  of  the  State  ?  This  would  be  contrary  to  the  principles  of 
Quakerism;  and  on  this  point  at  least,  the  unlawfulness  of  aggressive  re 
sistance  even  to  legalized  oppression,  the  wrongfulness  of  destroying  human 
life  for  the  attainment  of  any  political  purpose — on  this  point  I  must  con 
ceive  that  Quakerism  is  Christianity." — Prof.  Stowe. 


APPENDIX.  347 

the  case  which  render  such  laws  necessary  both  as  an  act  of 
humanity  toward  the  slave,  and  of  sacred  regard  to  the  com 
mon  weal.* 

MISSION    INTO    THE    INTERIOR. 

From  the  twentieth  annual  report  of  the  American  Co 
lonization  Society,  we  learn  that  "  Commissioners  were 
some  time  since  appointed  by  the  colonial  government  to 
proceed  into  the  interior  as  far  as  Bo  Poro,  the  residence 
of  King  Boatswain,  for  the  purpose  of  negotiating  a  peace 
between  certain  hostile  tribes,  and  opening  a  friendly  and 
mutually  advantageous  intercourse  with  the  people  of  that 
region.  D.  W.  Whitehurst,  one  of  these  commissioners, 
has  recently  visited  the  United  States,  and  made  report  to  the 
managers  of  his  observations  during  his  absence  of  four 
months  from  the  colony.  The  commissioners  resided  at 
Bo  Poro,  (from  80  to  100  miles  from  Monrovia)  several 
weeks,  and  though  they  failed,  owing  to  the  very  disturbed 
state  of  the  country,  to  effect  the  main  object,  they  acquired 
information  of  great  value.  They  passed  through  a  fertile 
and  beautiful  country,  upon  which  were  scattered  numerous 
fortified  native  towns,  inhabited  by  a  savage  but  active  and 
industrious  people,  and  abounding  in  the  productions  of  tro 
pical  agriculture.  Of  a  town  within  eight  miles  of  Bo  Poro, 
Mr.  Whitehurst  writes,  *  Every  thing  conspires  to  render 
this  spot  desirable  for  human  happiness,  if  the  propensity 
for  war  which  the  people  have  could  be  gotten  over ;  but  as 
it  is,  every  thing  is  secondary  to  the  grand  object  of  con 
quest  or  capture.  Groups  of  cheerful  beings  were  passed 

*  Though  every  virtuous  man  will  aim  to  promote  that  state  of  society 
which  secures  freedom  and  equal  rights  to  every  member  of  the  communi 
ty,  and  though  of  the  possibility  of  such  a  state  under  the  influences  of  ci 
vilization  and  Christianity,  we  ought  not  to  despair,  yet  it  is  unquestionable 
that  individual  freedom  and  individual  happiness  should  ever  be  considered 
subordinate  to  the  public  good.  It  is  not  right  that  men  should  be  free  when 
their  freedom  will  prove  injurious  to  themselves  and  others.  Hence,  in  all 
enlightened  communities,  the  restraints  upon  minors,  and  upon  all  who  are 
found  incapable  of  judging  and  acting  for  themselves." — Repository. 


348  APPENDIX. 

through,  either  planting  or  grubbing,  while  at  the  towns  the 
women  were  generally  employed  in  spinning  cotton.  Cot 
ton  grows  abundant  throughout  the  country,  and  every  town 
is  furnished,  more  or  less,  with  the  apparatus  for  dyeing  and 
weaving.  The  sugar  cane  too  we  observed  frequently,  while 
the  plantain  and  banana  were  in  the  greatest  profusion.  The 
first  notice,  at  times,  that  we  would  have  of  our  proximity 
to  a  town,  would  be  the  dense  and  beautiful  foliage  of  those 
trees,  giving  us  notice  of  human  habitations.  We  approach 
ed  Talma  through  beautiful  walks  of  lofty  and  magnificent 
trees,  very  thickly  interspersed  with  those  of  camwood, 
whose  fragrant  blossoms  imparted  delightful  aroma  to  the 
atmosphere.'  He  remarks,  <  The  situation  of  Bo  Poro  is 
very  obscure,  being  located  in  a  valley  formed  by  a  chain  of 
double  mountains,  completely  encircling  it  and  giving  to  their 
elevation  a  remarkable  similitude  to  the  seats  of  a  theatre. 
The  scenery  by  which  the  town  is  surrounded,  is  magnifi 
cently  grand ;  as  far  as  the  eye  can  see,  you  discern  moun 
tain  towering  above  mountain  until  they  are  lost  in  the  dis 
tance.  The  chain  runs  regularly  for  some  miles,  then  a  por 
tion  more  lofty  than  the  rest  towers  aloft,  whilst  from  base  to 
summit  the  eye  can  behold  but  one  expanse  of  the  greenest 
foliage.  The  land  then  assumes  a  gentle  acclivity,  and  its  in 
creasing  altitude  soon  raises  it  upon  an  elevation  with  other 
prominences,  until  the  whole  assumes  the  appearance  of  one 
continuous  chain.  Here,  perhaps,  the  eye  is  met  by  a  por 
tion  under  cultivation,  whilst  there  a  path  is  distinctly  visi 
ble  leading  to  regions  beyond.  At  their  base  is  to  be  seen 
the  plantain,  the  sure  evidence  of  the  habitation  of  human 
beings,  whilst  from  their  shade  will  be  seen  ascending  smoke 
from  their  various  fires.  On  their  summit  the  eye  catches 
the  outline  of  a  distant  town,  whilst  a  barricaded  one  is  more 
distinctly  visible.  Upon  the  whole,  the  scenery  is  more 
magnificent  than  any  that  I  remember  having  seen,  and  it  is 
to  me  a  matter  of  great  regret  that  I  am  unable  to  sketch  what 
was  most  vividly  impressed  upon  my  mind.' 


APPENDIX.  349 

But  amid  these  scenes,  so  adorned  and  enriched  by  the 
hand  of  nature,  and  where  the  useful  arts  are  not  wholly  un 
known,  men  are  the  victims  of  the  worst  superstition  and 
vice.  By  the  slave-trade  they  have  been  rendered  more  im 
placable  foes  to  each  other  than  are  the  leopards  of  their  for 
ests,  and  even  cannibalism:  a  crime  not  against  reason  and 
the  moral  sense  alone,  but  revolting  even  to  instinct,  exists 
among  them." 

NEW   MISSION    TO    AFRICA. 

The  Rev.  J.  Payne,  and  the  Rev.  L.  B.  Minor,  sailed 
from  Baltimore  on  the  18th  of  May,  last,  1837,  for  Cape 
Palmas,  as  Missionaries  from  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  these  United  States. 

At  the  late  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Missions  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  held  since  that  time,  the  fol 
lowing  important  action  was  had : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  expedient  to  have  a  Missionary 
Bishop  of  this  Church  for  Foreign  parts, 

Resolved,  That  the  station  of  the  said  Missionary  Bishop 
should  be  AFRICA. 

The  Missionary  Bishop  thus  provided  for,  is  expected  to 
extend  his  Episcopal  supervision  to  other  Missionary  Sta*- 
tions  of  the  Board  in  Foreign  Countries — probably  to  the 
several  stations  at  Athens,  in  Syra,  in  Crete,  in  Persia,  in 
China.  But  his  location  will  be  in  Africa,  the  land  of  Ter- 
tullian,  Cyprian,  and  other  Fathers  of  the  church.  It  is  in 
deed  delightful  to  witness  the  interest  which  is  now  taken 
by  the  several  denominations  of  evangelical  Christians  in 
behalf  of  that  long  neglected,  but  most  interesting  conti 
nent  ;  and  it  is,  to  the  author,  matter  of  devout  gratitude  to 
God,  that  the  Episcopal  Church  is  thus  coming  up  to  the 
great  and  good  work,  and  is  about  to  be  again  efficiently 
organized  in  that  once  enlightened  but  now  benighted  land. 

Ff 


IN  FAMILIAR  CONVERSATIONS  ON  THE    SUBJECT  OF 

SLAVERY  AND  COLONIZATION: 

BY  REV.  F.  FREEMAN,  RECTOR  OF   ST.  DAVID'S  CHURCH, 
MAN AYUSTK,  PA. 

AUTHOR  OF    THE  PASTOR'S  PLEA  FOR  PSALMODY,  ETC. 

THIS  work,  now  republished  with  considerable  additions  and 
and  improvements,  should  be  extensively  read,  since  it  contains  more 
than  any  other  publication,  full  and  general  information,  given  with 
strict  impartiality,  on  subjects  of  vast  importance  and  increasing  in 
terest  in  every  part  of  our  widely  extended  country.  The  first  edition, 
of  2000  copies  being  exhausted,  it  has  been  considered  by  distinguish 
ed  friends  of  colonization,  a  desideratum  that  a  revised  and  improved 
edition  should  be  issued  in  such  a  form  as  may  ensure  its  extensive 
circulation.  The  attention  of  all,  favorable  to  free  inquiry,  and  who 
know  how  to  appreciate  facts,  and  kind  and  candid  reasoning,  whatever 
their  present  views  of  the  subject  discussed  may  be,  is  therefore  very 
respectfully  invited  to  the  work.  The  perusal  of  the  work  will  abun 
dantly  compensate  for  the  trifling  cost,  whilst  its  possession  will  be  of 
great  value  for  occasional  reference. 

A  few  notices  recommendatory  of  the  work,  consequent  upon  the  ap 
pearance  of  the  first  edition,  have  been  selected  from  various  leading 
periodicals,  and  are  here  inserted,  that  those  who  may  feel  inclined 
to  aid  a  good  object,  and  favor  the  circulation  of  the  "  Plea,"  may  be 
the  better  acquainted  with  the  estimation  in  which  it  is  held. 

From  the  Colonization  Herald,  Philadelphia. 

This  work,  so  long  a  desideratum,  will  be  read  with  equal  pleasure 
and  profit  by  every  true  friend  of  the  African  race  ;  correct  principles, 
sprightly  narrative,  and  thrilling  anecdote,  being  happily  blended  in  a 
work  of  high  literary  merit.  *  *  We  hope  the  time  is  not  far  dis 
tant  when  a  copy  of  it  will  be  found  in  every  family  of  our  land.  The 
spirit  with  which  it  is  written  must  commend  it  to  the  attentive  perusal 
of  every  one  of  good  feeling. 

From  the  Journal  of  Commerce,  New  York. 

This  is  an  able  defence  of  colonization  in  the  form  of  familiar  dia 
logues.  The  author  goes  over  the  whole  ground  of  the  controversy 
which  has  of  late  so  agitated  the  country,  bringing  to  his  aid  many 
appropriate  observations  of  distinguished  men,  or  extracts  from  their 
speeches,  which  are  made  to  bear,  in  an  interesting  and  instructive 
manner,  upon  the  points  under  discussion. 


352 

From  the  Presbyterian,  Philadelphia, 

"  Mr.  Freeman  has  succeeded  in  making  a  very  readable  book,  at 
once  attractive  and  instructive.  The  conversational  form  adopted  fur 
nishes  the  opportunity  of  introducing  great  variety  of  matter  without 
confusion  and  all  bearing  on  the  principal  design.  Sketches,  anecdote, 
history  and  argument,  are  happily  blended  in  furnishing  a  full  view  of 
the  subject,  and  in  leading  the  mind  to  the  conclusion  that  colonization 
is  the  only  true  remedy  of  an  acknowledged  evil,  for  the  cure  of  which 
such  unskilful  means  have  lately  been  applied.  *  *  *  We  recom 
mend  the  perusal  of  Yaradee  as  a  seasonable  publication,  and  even 
our  southern  brethren,  although  they  may  possibly  object  to  some  of 
its  details,  will,  nevertheless,  give  credit  to  the  author  for  his  good 
spirit." 

From  the  National  Gazette,  Philadelphia. 

"  The  author's  '  Conversations'  treat  of  a  variety  of  interesting  to 
pics  in  connexion  with  the  main  subject,  and  much  historical  informa 
tion  is  included  in  his  pages.'' 

From  the  baptist  Monthly  Paper,  Philadelphia. 
"  IUs,  as  it  purports  to  be,  a  series  of  familiar  conversations  thrown 
into  an' attractive  form.  In  this  day  of  excitement  upon  the  subject 
of  slavery,  abolition,  and  colonization,  of  clashing  statements  of  fact, 
and  conflicting  opinions,  we  think  Mr.  Freeman  has  performed  a  va 
luable  service  for  the  community ;  and  we  hope  not  in  vain.  There 
seems  a  very  pleasing  variety  of  fact  and  incident  embodied  in  the 
work,  which  will,  as  we  before  remarked,  render  it  attractive,  while  we 
fear  not  to  predict  its  utility,  if  it  is  read. 

From  the  United  States  Gazette,  Philadelphia. 
A  part  of  this  volume  contains  a  learned  dissertation  upon  the  ori 
gin  of  slavery,  and  of  the  cause  of  that  evil  upon  Africa.  The  wri 
ter  quotes  from  many  ingenious  authors,  and  gives  great  interest  to  his 
work  by  his  happy  use  of  his  reading.  *  *  *  He  sets  forth  the 
evils  of  slavery  to  the  master  as  well  as  to  the  slave,  arid  points  to  co 
lonization  as  a  remedy." 

From  the  Commercial  Advertiser  JVeiu  York. 
"  It  appears  to  be  designed  to  present,  at  one  view,  a  summary  of  the 
views  of  the  different  parties  on  these  two  topics,  (slavery  and  coloni 
zation,)  and  the  arguments  and  facts  on  which  each  of  them  relies. 
In  the  main  we  regard  the  spirit  of  the  author  to  be  unexceptionable. 
*  *  *  We  have  been  pleased  with  the  general  tendency  of  the  vo 
lume,  which  is  to  exhibit  the  present  attractive  position  which  Provi 
dence  has  given  to  the  scheme  of  African  colonization.  The  informa 
tion  it  contains,  ought  to  be  universally  disseminated  in  our  own  coun 
try,  and  if  British  philanthropists  and  orators  would  read  it  they  would 
spare  themselves,  and  others,  the  exhibitions  of  windy  eloquence, 
by  which  they  are  making  themselves  ridiculous,  and  slandering  the 
nation." 


353 

From  the  Keystone,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

*'  We  have  perused  the  above  work  with  as  much  pleasure  as  we 
could  probably  peruse  any  work  treating  upon  the  subject  of  Africa, 
and  her  much  injured  race,  and  we  would  most  cheerfully  recommend 
it  to  the  perusal  of  all  others,  especially  those  who  feel  interested  in 
the  subject ;  and  who  does  not  at  this  time  1  It  contains  a  glance 
at  the  origin  of  the  African  race,  and  the  history  of  Africa — a 
brief  history  of  the  slave  trade,  slavery,  and  of  the  Colonization  So 
ciety.  The  work  is  written  in  familiar  style  of  dialogue,  and  breathes 
throughout  a  pure  spirit  of  enlightened  philanthropy.  The  author's  views 
are,  as  he  says,  '  the  conscientious  result  of  much  reflection,  personal 
observation,  and  a  long  residence  at  the  south.'  The  book  should  be  in 
every  family." 

From  the  Lancaster  Journal,  fa. 

"Those  wishing  a  full  illustration  and  investigation  of  the  subject 
of  slavery  and  colonization,  we  refer  to  the  above  work.  We  think 
none  can  rise  from  its  perusal  without  having  their  minds  enlightened 
on  this  very  important  subject." 

From  the  Philadelphia  Observer. 

"  Yaradee,  a  Plea  for  Africa,  is  the  title  of  the  interesting  book  in 
which  Mr.  Freeman  has  collected  and  judiciously  arranged  a  number 
of  important  facts  relative  to  the  history  and  evils  of  slavery  ;  he  has 
also  rendered  the  work  more  valuable  by  collating  and  presenting  in 
their  connexion  with  each  other,  the  sentiments  of  many  of  the  most 
enlightened  and  distinguished  men,  both  in  Europe  and  America,  who 
have  contributed  of  their  influence  and  talents  in  aid  of  the  cause 
which  he  pleads.  He  has  appropriately  adopted  a  conversational  style 
and  so  happily  blended  entertainment  with  instruction,  as  to  render  his 
Plea  a  captivating  manual,  not  only  for  the  use  of  mature  inquirers  but 
also  of  those  who  are  soon  to  assume  an  active  agency  in  consumma 
ting  the  plans  which  their  seniors  shall  have  commenced.  *  *  We  be 
lieve  that  whoever  shall  read  it,  and  we  believe  they  will  be  many,  will 
derive  from  it  much  knowledge,  and  receive  such  impressions  as  will 
better  qualify  them  to  act  with  an  intelligent  zeal  in  promoting  the  ob 
ject  the  attainment  of  which  it  contemplates." 

From  the  Christian  Intelligencer,  JVeto  York. 
"  In  this  work  the  author  lias  arranged  and  collected  a  number  of 
facts  in  relation  to  the  history  and  evils  of  slavery,  and  the  whole  is  de 
signed  and  calculated  to  excite  sympathy  for  the  colored  race,  and  to 
prompt  to  measures  for  the  melioration  of  their  condition.  Mr.  Free 
man  is  the  enlightened  and  zealous  friend  of  the  cause  of  colonization  ; 
he  views  it  as  most  auspiciously  operating  upon  the  cause  of  universal 
emancipation  ;  securing  in  its  success  the  moral  and  spiritual  renova 
tion  of  long  oppressed  and  degraded  Africa.  A  great  variety  of  mat 
ter  is  introduced,  and  amusement  and  instruction  are  happily  blended. 
Sketches,  anecdotes,  history,  and  argument,  are  furnished  in  order  to 


354 

give  a  full  view  of  the  subject.  We  know  of  no  work  on  the  subject 
better  adapted  for  popular  use,  in  imparting  interest  and  instruction, 
and  we  feel  free  in  recommending  it  to  our  readers." 

Besides  the  above  editorial  notices  a  reviewer  of  the  work,  who  is 
known  to  be  a  distinguished  clergyman,  in  a  series  of  numbers  in  the 
New  York  Observer,  says  : 

"  This  is  a  most  seasonable  and  useful  publication,  called  for  by  the 
peculiar  state  of  the  public  mind  in  reference  to  the  now  all  absorbing 
topic,  both  in  the  political  and  religious  world,  viz.  the  colored  race  ; 
called  for  also  by  the  discussions  in  progress  on  that  subject."  The 
author  "  has  happily  succeeded  in  avoiding  almost  entirely  the  language 
and  spirit  of  reprehension  and  severity  towards  any  party  or  individual 
whose  views  may  differ  from  his  own.  No  one  can,  certainly  no  one 
ought  to  complain,  who  entertains  different  sentiments  from  the  author 
since  he  so  carefully  avoids  those  '  grievous  words  which  stir  up  anger,' 
and  so  copiously  employ  those  '  soft  answers  which  turn  away  wrath.'  " 

To  the  foregoing  notices  is  subjoined  the  following  from  the  respect 
ed  Secretaries  of  the  Pennsylvania  Colonization  Society  and  the  Ame 
rican  Society  for  the  promotion  of  Education  in  Africa  : 

"  The  Plea  for  Africa  is  recommended  to  all  the  friends  of  the  Colo 
nization  Society,  and  to  all  friends  of  Africa,  and  of  the  colored  peo 
ple  in  this  land,  as  the  best  exhibition  of  the  argument  for  the  Coloni 
zation  scheme  now  extant.  It  is  full  of  interesting  information. 

ORSON  DOUGLASS, 
Gen.  Agt.  and  Cor.  Sec.  of  the  Penri.  Col.  Society. 

REUBEN  D.  TURNER, 

Cor.  Sec.  and  Gen.  Agt.  of  the  Am.  Society  for  Edc.  in  Africa. 
June  17,  1837. 


355 
PSAL,]ttODIA3 

OR  THE  PASTOR'S  PLEA  FOR  SACRED  PSALMODY. 
BY  REV.    F.   FREEMAN, 

RECTOR  OF  ST.  DAVID's  CHURCH,  MANAYUNK  ;  AUTHOR  OF 

THE  "  PLEA  FOR  AFRICA,"  &C.;  BY  J.  WHETHAM,  NO.  22 

SOUTH    FOURTH    STEET,    PHILADELPHIA,    AND 

EZRA    COLLIER,    148    NASSAU    STREET, 

NEW  YORK. 


The  following  are  some  of  the  notices  which  have  been  taken  of 
this  work  by  religious  and  other  periodicals : 

Extract  from  "  The  Missionary"  Burlington,  J\"J. 

"In  this  little  volume,  so  very  neatly  printed,  with  the  most  appro 
priate  mottoes  most  tastefully  arranged,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Freeman,  Rector  of 
St.  David's,  Manayunk,  has  done  the  Church  good,  and  we  should 
hope  acceptable  service.  We  are  happy  in  an  auxiliary  so  zealous  and 
so  able,  in  a  cause  which  we  have  so  much  at  heart;  and  commend  his 
pastoral  plea  to  all  who  have — and  keep  us  clear  of  all  who  have  not — 
music  in  their  hearts.  Our  Pastor  of  St.  David's — an  excellent  pa 
tron  for  Psalmodia — pleads  earnestly,  first  that  it  is  our  duty  to  sing 
God's  praise,  and  second,  to  do  it  well.  Under  the  latter  head,  he  argues 
that  singing  should  be  congregational,  the  tune  appropriate  both  to 
the  occasion  and  sentiment,  the  deportment  decent  and  devotional, 
the  heart  engaged — singing  and  making  melody  in  our  hearts  unto 
the  Lord." 

Extract  from  the  "  Episcopal  Recorder"  Philadelphia. 

"This  little  work  has  long  been  needed.  The  subject  of  Church 
music,  as  important  as  it  is,  has  been  altogether  unattended  to  in  the 
degree  that  its  proper  merit  would  reasonably  demand.  Especially  in 
a  Church  whose  public  devotions  admit  so  much  singing  as  does 'the 
Episcopal  Church,  should  Psalmody  claim  much  attention.  This  is 
a  subject,  however,  which  has  been  almost  entirely  overlooked,  and  in 
view  of  this  fact,  the  little  work,  whose  title  we  give  above,  has  been 
produced.  The  work  before  us  considers  the  duty  of  singing  God's 
praise,  and  the  manner  in  which  that  duty  should  be  performed  ;  under 


356 

which  two  heads  are  briefly  discussed  almost  every  thing  that  properly 
pertains  to  Church  music.  We  commend  it  earnestly  to  those  whom 
it  concerns,  and  tvhom  does  it  not?  with  a  hope  that  the  subject  will 
meet  with  more  attention  than  it  has  heretofore  had.  We  hope  that 
the  work  will  be  widely  circulated  and  carefully  read." 

Extract  from  "  The  Churchman"  New  York. 

"  This  work  is  divided  into  four  parts,  the  first  consisting  of  intro 
ductory  remarks,  and  the  last  of  a  conclusion  and  appendix.  The 
second  part  contains  three  chapters  on  "  singing  God's  praise,"  and  the 
third  contains  twelve  chapters  on  "  the  manner  in  which  the  duty  should 
be  performed."  Of  the  correctness  of  its  scientific  principles,  we  are 
incompetent  to  give  an  opinion  ;  but  the  spirit  and  design  of  it  are 

II A.  >? 


excellent." 


Extract  from  a  Brooklyn  Paper,  N.  Y. 


"  This  is  a  very  pretty  duodecimo,  and  is  xvell  worthy  an  attentive 
reading.  The  views  of  the  writer  are  sound  and  Christian-like.  The 
importance  of  music,  vocal  and  instrumental ;  the  duty  of  each  indi 
vidual  to  join  in  the  service ;  the  parts  to  be  performed  by  the  leader, 
the  choir,  and  the  congregation;  the  disapproval  of  all  singing  by 
proxy,  i.  e.  of  the  choir  for  the  congregation  ;  and  the  remarks  on  the 
proper  use  of  instruments,  are  each  deserving  of  the  consideration  of 
the  members  of  churches  of  all  denominations." 

Extract  from  a  Review  in  "  The  Musical  Magazine"  New 
York,  by  Thomas  Hastings,  Esq. 

"  We  greet  this  little  volume  with  peculiar  pleasure,  as  furnished 
by  the  pen  of  a  worthy  clergyman.  This,  we  would  fondly  hope,  is 
the  commencement  of  a  better  era  in  the  American  Churches.  Who 
shall  become  the  successful  advocates  of  true  devotional  praise  while 
ministers  treat  the  subject  with  manifest  indifference  1  *  *  We  are 
glad  that  the  author  has  come  before  the  public,  and  are  persuaded  that 
his  little  book,  coming  from  such  a  source  as  it  does,  will  be  of  service 
to  the  cause.  The  religious  claims  of  the  cause,  the  duties  of  the 
teacher,  the  organist,  the  choir,  the  congregation,  the  clergy — on  such 
topics  as  these  the  writer  seems  quite  at  home,  and  desirous  of  deliver 
ing  his  message  with  faithfulness  and  zeal.  We  hope  that  such  men 
as  he  will  continue  to  speak  till  songs  of  praise  shall  echo  through 
the  land." 


357 

TO    CLERGYMEN,   STUDENTS  IN  THEOLOGY, 

&c. 

J.  WHETHAM  takes  this  opportunity  of  informing  his  customers 
and  the  public  generally  that  he  has  lately  imported  a  large  assortment 
of  the  most  important  works  in  the  various  departments  of  Theology, 
Church  History  and  Biblical  Literature,  selected  by  a  competent  agent 
in  Europe,  with  a  view  to  the  wants  of  clergymen,  students  of  theo 
logy,  and  persons  engaged  in  a  course  of  collegiate  education ;  and  on 
such  terms  as  to  enable  him  to  offer  them  at  lower  prices  than  they  can 
be  obtained  at  any  other  store  in  the  United  States. 

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John  Dick,  D.  D.,  with  a  Preface,  Memoir,  &c.,  second  American 
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WATSON'S  DIVINITY.  A  Body  of  Practical  Divinity  in  a 
Series  of  Sermons  on  the  Shorter  Catechism,  with  sermons  on  various 
subjects,  by  Thomas  Watson,  1  vol.  royal  8vo. 

COLLYER'S  LECTURES.  Lectures  on  Scripture  Facts  and 
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CHRISTIAN  ANTIQUITIES.  Antiquities  of  the  Christian 
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JONES'  CHURCH  HISTORY.  The  History  of  the  Christian 
Church  from  the  Birth  of  Christ  to  the  XVIIIth  Century,  including 
the  interesting  account  of  the  Waldenses  and  Albigenses,  by  Wm. 
Jones,  1  vol.  8vo. 

CALVIN  ON  ROMANS.  A  Commentary  on  the  Epistle  to  the 
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MEMOIR  OF  RICE.  A  memoir  of  the  Rev.  John  H.  Rice,  D.  D. 
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358 

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359 

PSALMS  AND  HYMNS  adapted  to  Public  Worship,  and  approv 
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do.         do.         do.         32mo. 

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VB  20663 


